Imperial War Museum: Blavatnik Galleries
The Marcon team were delighted to see the new Blavatnik Art, Film and Photography Gallery opening last week at IWM London.
Marcon were the principal contractor responsible for the refurbishment and fit-out of the new 10,000sq ft gallery and worked with project managers Fraser Randall as part of the client team.
Supported by the Blavatnik Family Foundation, the new gallery showcases around 300 visual media collections, spanning the First World War to the present day. It is the UKs first to explore how artists, photographers and filmmakers, document and tell the story of conflict.
Works on site began in March 2023. The scope of works included the creation of new screening areas, including acoustic panelling and seating areas.
The main space is split into four galleries through the installation of new exhibition walling and steelwork support. They include;
- Perspectives and Frontiers
- Power of the Image
- Practice and Process
- Mind and Body
Other elements of the fit out include 900 sq m of resin flooring, new joinery items including bespoke plinths and benches, metal work incorporating MEP and integration with AV and Display case packages.
IWM London is a grade II listed building which meant there were strict guidelines in place regarding fixing to the fabric of the building and for the upgrade and integration of fire protection and ventilation systems. These challenges required ongoing communication with IWM and heritage teams throughout all phases of the project.
Speaking about the project Contract Manager at Marcon, Martin McErlean said: “We were delighted to be selected to deliver the works at such an iconic Museum building in the heart of London. The finished project has delivered a beautiful new gallery space, finished to the highest standard. We thoroughly enjoyed working closely with the team at Fraser Randall, IWM and our specialist team to successfully deliver the project. It’s a fantastic gallery and I would encourage everyone to visit.”
