NML World Museum Bughouse Gallery Furniture Fit-out Works

Bidders are asked to submit a formal tender for the "Bughouse, World Museum, Furniture Fit-Out Tender". Detail of the works outlined below:

This area has under gone many variations of change over the last few years, and now decision has been made to hand this area of the gallery back to the Education team, so they can use the space as a multifunctional and flexible group or visitor space.

As part of this new offer the team want to maintain some kind of collection display for visitors. The items they identified for the space include 1no. large display case and 9no. drawer units, these items are already existing and are currently stored in the room. The team were keen to keep the large display case which will house their butterfly collection and have a series of drawer units which contain specimens/collections linked to both the Bughouse and the Clore Natural History centre. Part of the challenge was to have a space which provided storage, as well as display items, and had space for activities which include the use of tables/chairs. We approached an architectural design company to come up with a scheme design that would provide and deliver all requirements mentioned above.

The works involved in this tender include for the building a surround to a large display case, which will have a dual purpose and provide storage space behind for the team to store away their tables and chairs out of public view. The case which will form part of this structure already exists and is currently within the space secured to the wall. The case will need to be relocated forward and repositioned and secured to the floor before the furniture housing is built around it. The case will be relocated and secured by others in collaboration with the appointed contractor for this tender of work.

The drawer units within the room, decision has been made to position these off the wall and create a central island arrangement, which will act as an area where visitors can open the drawer units and look at the collections, but can also be used as a demonstration and activities table. The drawer units will be positioned down one side and on one corner of the table island, and the other side of the table closet to the wall will have no drawer units allowing for leg room, any one who have access requirements. These drawer units have adjustable legs, all drawer units will need to be adjusted to the same height. Between each drawer unit we would like a support panel or leg; this is to prevent them moving from side to side. When the drawer unit drawers are opened, multiple drawers can open at once, and this can make the whole unit tilt forward. We will require the drawer units to be secured and fitted to the table bench to prevent this tilt motion.