British Museum expands with steel

Steelwork erection will begin this summer for a new World Conservation and Exhibitions Centre at the British Museum in London.

Rowecord Engineering will erect approximately 1,500t of structural steelwork for this prestigious project, constructing the frame for the exhibition and office spaces which sit above the concrete basement levels.

To create the necessary open plan areas required for the exhibition areas, Rowecord will install a series of 16m long vierendeel trusses.

Paul Bryant, Projects Director for Rowecord said: “The confined nature of the site and close proximity of the surrounding buildings which house exhibits demands that special attention is given to the construction of the steelwork.

“All of the steel will be left exposed and therefore requires a high quality finish to both connections and the fire protected steelwork.”

Due to open in 2013, the new exhibition spaces will mean the Museum will be able to bring back many of its important collections which presently cannot be accommodated.