NMRN Storehouse 12 Collection Project PQQ Capital Works

The project comprises refurbishment of parts of the ground floor and all of the first floor of Storehouse 12 (SH12), a long and narrow brick-built warehouse building located within Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, dating from around 1860. This structure is not listed although it does lie within a Conservation area and the secure side of Portsmouth Naval Base.

Storehouse 12 is just over 90m long by 8m wide with storey heights of approximately 5m and divided into three 'blocks' separated at Ground floor level by two former 'carriageway' spaces passing through the width of the structure, referred to as the North and South carriageways.

The Ground floor of the building is currently occupied by the NMRN and the majority of the Ground Floor will remain in occupation and use throughout the course of the contract. The North and South carriageways will be vacated for the duration of the refurbishment works, with the Library/ Workspace area in Block 3 (adjacent to the South Carriageway) in use but then handed over to the Contractor for a Redecorations Refurbishment towards the end of the contract works. The other two Blocks at Ground floor level contain important document archives, and these must be kept sealed off and protected from the contract works taking place adjacent and on the floor above for the duration of the works, with NMRM staff permitted regular e.g. weekly access to inspect these areas.

The works consist mainly of the refurbishment of the First floor to create two large storage spaces in Blocks 1 and 2 for incoming collections items belonging to the NMRN's collection, a staff workspace area and associated other facilities including:

The First floor will be thermally upgraded by installing new internal thermal linings to the walls and to the pitched internal roof soffit, to work in conjunction with minimal plant to provide mostly passively-conditioned storage and working space. The existing concrete floor will be refurbished and sealed, and two localised areas infilled with a timber infill floor structure. Insulated window infill panels will be fitted to most of the windows. The First floor will be completely re-serviced with electrical, lighting and data and life safety systems fed from existing incoming supplies.

On the Ground floor a dedicated store room will be created for photographs and negatives and the two carriageways will become new entrance spaces.

The works also include alterations required to the external walls to create new entrances to the North and South carriageway spaces on the East elevation, block up existing redundant fire exit doors, and to add a no. of new ventilation airbricks below window bays at First floor level. Full details available in uploads