BECK, a leading restoration and refurbishment fit-out specialist, has completed the fit-out for the redesigned Hunterian Museum, London, which opened on 16 May.
This is the firm’s second project for the Hunterian Museum, having worked on a fit-out for the organisation eighteen years ago.
The Hunterian’s history
The Hunterian Museum at the Royal College of Surgeons of England is named after 18th-century surgeon anatomist John Hunter, and is home to his collection of specimens. The government bought the collection in 1799, before gifting it to the Company of Surgeons, subsequently known as the Royal College of Surgeons of England. The museum was opened in 1813 at Lincoln’s Inn Field.
Architects Hawkins Brown has designed the new redevelopment of the building, which displays over 3,500 exhibits. It tells the story of surgery from ancient times to the present day – both as an art and a science.
An evolving attraction
BECK has previously worked with the Hunterian Museum to fit out the first floor of the old Royal College of Surgeons of England building. These displays opened in 2005 and were widely acclaimed, featuring a ‘Crystal Gallery’ with a two-storey, four-sided display of Hunter’s specimens in glass cases.
Hawkins Brown was hired in 2017 to design a significant building makeover for the Royal College of Surgeons of England. The new structure replaced a maze of hallways and rooms which were used as a training centre for surgical and dental specialists, and which was developed after the site was bombed during WWII. The building’s historic front apartments were preserved, including the College Library which was created by Sir Charles Barry in the 1830s and designated as Grade II*.
The ground floor of the new structure is home to 10 new Museum Rooms and a shop. The BECK team arrived on site when the space was still a shell and worked on a museum base build package that included flooring, ceilings, partitions, decorations, and mechanical and electrical additions.
Following completion and a dust-free milestone, the team moved on to the fit-out, including joinery, Corian and metalwork set-works, models, lighting, graphics, and showcase and AV hardware coordination.
Redesign and reclaim
Over 5000 graphics were required, ranging from tiny artefact labels and display panels to backlit graphics and floor graphics. A range of techniques, including direct-to-media and silk-screening, were applied to diverse substrates, including powder-coated metal and anodized aluminium. Custom wire label holders, display rods, and plates were also made.
Because many of the artefacts and specimens were protected in conservation grade showcases, every technique and substrate required Oddy testing to verify that no off-gassing would harm the exhibits in the sealed display cases.
The project started in May 2021. The remainder of the building remained fully operational, and the crew worked around ‘no noise periods’ that corresponded to lectures and exams. Containing dust from the construction site and considering the impact of deliveries were also important considerations.
Wherever feasible, the BECK team recovered old, unusable marble from the site. To commemorate the critical dust-free milestone in June 2022, they designed bespoke, engraved marble drinks coasters as gifts for the project team.
The redevelopment took 19 months and was completed in December 2022.
Design by Casson Mann
BECK has brought concepts by Casson Mann to life in the brand-new space. The team has also collaborated with Fraser Randall, Hawkins Brown, Electrosonic, ISO Design, Click Netherfield, and de Pass Montgomery for this project. The museum’s new form combines modern AV equipment and bespoke set-works to provide visitors with a new interactive experience.
Chris Lawrenson, board director at BECK says: “It is always an honour to return to the site of a former project, having been entrusted by our clients to deliver fit-out works for them once again. The Hunterian Museum enjoys a rich history and has unique requirements for the fragile and historically important specimens in John Hunter’s collection.”
“The team took great care to ensure the collection is preserved correctly, in beautiful set-works with accompanying high-quality graphics for visitors to enjoy,” Lawrenson continues. “It has been fantastic to work with the Royal College of Surgeons of England, Casson Mann, Fraser Randall and the entire client team to give the gallery spaces and shop a new lease of life.”
Dawn Kemp, director of museums and special collections at the Royal College of Surgeons of England says: “The BECK team, especially Ben, Paul, Erik and Chris, have been brilliant to work with. They have paid great attention to the detail and quality the new Hunterian Museum design required.”
“BECK realised Casson Mann’s elegant and magical design and have created a beautiful space which I hope will inspire a new generation of followers and friends for decades to come.”
BECK has also recently announced the successful fit-out of the Lift 109 visitor experience for the Battersea Power Station Development Company. This was part of a ten-year-long renovation project which transformed the historic building into a mixed-use space.
