EIC has won the contract to provide mechanical and electrical services for the much-anticipated Mary Rose Museum project at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard. The national building services provider will undertake installation of the critical environmental systems for this exciting new £35m project.
Working closely with the Mary Rose Trust, and alongside main contractor Warings and engineers from Gifford, EIC will be responsible for the precision heating, ventilation and humidity systems and controls that will maintain the correct environmental conditions for the conservation of one of the most famous ships in history, Henry VIII's flagship, the Mary Rose.
The striking building, designed by Wilkinson Eyre, is being built around the 500-year-old hull, which is too delicate to be moved. For the last three decades, since she was raised from the seabed in 1982, the fragile hull has been housed at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, alongside the renowned flagship of Admiral Lord Nelson, HMS Victory.
The complex conservation programme employed since the Mary Rose was raised, has seen the constant spraying of a water-based solution, polyethylene glycol. This will end in 2011 when the hull will enter its final conservation phase, controlled air-drying. The new museum is scheduled to open in autumn 2012.
Darren Parrish, EIC South regional director, said: "Although we are always innovating, rarely do we get the chance to work on such an exciting scheme and be part of history in this way. The conservation of this historic ship is of huge national importance and the Mary Rose Museum project is incredibly prestigious, it is a genuine honour to be involved.
"We have an enormous responsibility to make sure the systems and controls we install are both accurate and robust, in order to protect this national treasure. The building's striking external design is complemented by the technologically advanced internal systems which provide us with the opportunity to demonstrate the experience and expertise which was behind our being appointed to this scheme."
EIC will undertake the installation of the Hanwell system, which monitors the environmental conditions within the ship hall and other areas of close environmental control. The contractor will also be responsible for the general lighting, heating and ventilation requirements of the visitor areas and other exhibition zones.
Andy Owen, senior project manager for Warings Contractors, said: "We appointed EIC on the basis of their strong track record in delivering complex, multi service contracts, and also with the knowledge of the enabling works that was completed earlier this year, and are delighted to welcome them to this exciting project.
For more information about the project please go to www.maryrose.org