The result of a £40million revamp of Plymouth’s historic museum into a modern arts and cultural centre is about to be revealed.
Scaffolding is being taken down at The Box, the ambitious museum and art gallery being partly new-built and partly refurbished inside the old Grade II listed museum and library in North Hill, and a former church just behind it.
Work began on the project in February 2017, with the scaffolding providing a temporary roof over the former Central Library building, protecting the public while restoration work was undertaken.
Now that covering is being removed signifying that the end of the construction project is near, something the project team is excited about.
Dismantling the extensive scaffolding structure will take about four weeks from mid-September 2019.
Kristian Cartwright, construction manager at Willmott Dixon, which has been handling the conversion and new-build, said: ‘‘It is great to see the scaffolding come down on North Hill; we have been looking forward to this moment for some time.
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“We have delivered over 100 public tours and welcomed over 1,000 students over the course of the project, but we know that the rest of Plymouth can’t wait to see the finish product.
“Now the scaffolding is being dismantled people will start to see all the hard work that has gone in so far and it will hopefully build further excitement around the project as the end approaches.”
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The Box will contain eye-catching displays, including a scaled-down replica of the Mayflower ship which sailed to the New World, and visiting art works.
But the actual “box” itself, the new windowless newly constructed structure perched on top of the building, will be off limits to the public.
That is because The Box Archive will house the most significant, rare and valuable paintings and documents and has been purpose built to protect and preserve them.
Inside the one-foot thick concrete casing, the vast room contains metal racks for paintings, and dozens of metal cabinets and draws, where other artefacts will be stored.
The extension has no windows, so no natural light can damage the items. Much of the time it will be in darkness, with temperature and humidity strictly controlled. There is no sprinkler system and even the walls have no paint on them because even that can affect the relics by leaking tiny particles of moisture into the atmosphere.
However, the public will be able to view the items – digitally.
A floor over the new entrance, and below the archive, has been created and will be named the Active Archive. It will contain computer terminals where people can view documents and items stored in the museum and carry out research in the Cottonian Reading Room.
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This will sit above The Wow Space, the new glazed entrance which will welcome visitors into a large and spacious cafe and shop, featuring 11-metre high columns, with ships’ figureheads suspended from the ceiline.
A famous statue of King William IV, dubbed “King Billy’s Statue” and currently at Mutton Cove, will sit atop a column.
One downstairs gallery – the entire area will be fitted out by a company called The Hub - will house a reconstructed mammoth.
Another will have displays showing the naval history of Plymouth, and another detailing 100 journeys of discovery which started in the city.
First floor galleries will house contemporary art including a scaled-down reconstruction of the Mayflower.
Deep under the entire building, is a freezer and “ambient chill store” for relics that have to be kept cold.
Meanwhile, across Tavistock Place, St Luke’s Chapel will be fully converted into a contemporary art space, with a new suspended ceiling and mezzanine, and an extension for workshops and office space.
The entire project is due for completion in 2020.
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Cllr Peter Smith, Deputy Leader of Plymouth City Council, said: “This is another important milestone for The Box as we build towards our launch next year.
“So much hard work has taken place since the former Central Library, Museum and Art Gallery and St Luke’s Church buildings closed in 2016 and there’s still a lot of hard work to do, but removing the scaffolding is a really visible sign of progress and an indication that we are in the home straight.”
You can find out more about The Box