Walker Art Gallery & Midland Railway Building

Year: 2022
Region: North West
Award Category: Conservation and Regeneration
Organisation / Individual: Krol Corlett Construction Ltd, National Museums Liverpool, Donald Insall Architects, Baker Mallett, Buro Four, Max Fordham
National / Regional Winner: Regional WInner
Constructing Excellence

This £4.2m project consisted of the refurbishment and restoration of The WalkerArt Gallery and the refurbishment and M&E works to the Midland Railway Building. Both buildings are icon Liverpool Landmarks and are Grade II listed and both situated in the busy city centre. The main works comprised of extensive roof covering renewal with mechanical air handling replacement works. Coupled with full refurbishment to the main gallery floors in the Walker Art Gallery. Mechanical &electrical works and kitchen refurbishment to Midland Railway Building.
The complexity that the renovation and restoration work on these buildings bought was immense, not only as it were they ‘live’ environments open to the public, the buildings being Grade II listed, but also the logistics of a city centre location with minimal parking and loading.

In the initial stages the development of the construction programme was of the utmost importance to identify how the works where to be delivered in a timely and cost effect manner without impacting on the day-to-day running of the art Gallery, the staff, and the public. The majority of KrolCorletts works where to the building’s roof and restoration to two gallery rooms. The roof works were weather permitting and as the project started during March it proved extremely difficult and some unforeseen delays were encountered.

As well as having to constantly review and adapt the programme due to weather etc also had to deal with the Grade II list status. This meant that planning and work were subject to much more stringent planning controls and with this comes time and programme implications as well as any works carried out requiring listed building consent.

Three Winning Facts:
  1. The gallery is housed in a neo-Classical building built in 1843 and is located on William Brown Street, the only street in the United Kingdom to consist of nothing other than museums, galleries and libraries. This project and Kroll Corlett’s involvement have helped preserve the building.
  2. Working together navigating one of the toughest times in recent history ensured we solidified a strong work relationship with Trustees of National Museums and Galleries.
  3. All Krol Corlettsteam and Labour including subcontractors involved on this project were from the Northwest Region. Helping local economy and employment in our region.