Mace Group

Art Room, London Library

Refurbishment. Demolition. Construction. Words most gallery, museum and library directors dread. At Mace, we are proud of our track record in the arts and culture sector-and our ability to turn a set of complex challenges into an exercise in sympathetic construction.

For more than a decade, Mace has been involved in some of the most challenging and iconic arts and culture schemes around the world. From the uniquely engineered London Eye to Tate Britain's celebrated galleries, from the British Museum's Great Court glass ceiling to Stratford's revitalised Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Mace relishes challenges, whether they be budgetary restraints, stakeholder management, onerous planning requirements in constrained city centre sites, Grade II listed status or unexpected complications in running a newly renovated facility. We understand our clients' needs and are always mindful of the fact that these buildings belong, not just to the client organisation, but to every visitor who crosses the threshold.

Mace offers its clients a full lifecycle service, from initial design stage, through cost consultancy, development and funding advice, procurement, pre-construction and planning services, and into construction, refurbishment and fit out. Because we don't specialise in just one method of construction delivery, we can advise our clients on the best bespoke method of delivery for them. There are often no rulebooks for projects as innovative and unique as museums, art galleries and libraries, which characteristically demand flexibility and adaptability throughout the entire construction process. Wherever our clients are in the story of their building, we're
ready to help them write the next chapter.

One of the biggest challenges facing arts and culture projects today is budgetary restraints and the possible difficulties in accessing funding. When nearly every penny to be spent has been raised from charitable donations, hitting the budget is more than simply important, it affects the long-term viability of the entire institution. Using our experience in the sector and beyond we at Mace understand the funding streams that are so vital to the success of a project. Arts and culture projects also have to consider a large number of stakeholders; whether they are actors, artists or visitors, they all need to be managed effectively with frequent communication. During a project, the institutions are often open throughout the renovation works and in many cases need to retain a quiet and respectful environment. Issues such as these can really benefit from a construction management approach that keeps the needs of the client at the forefront of the development and works hard to manage delays and disruption to the day to day operators.

The value Mace can bring to these projects is in the ability to plan, and plan well. There are a number of ways to overcome these obstacles such as segregating areas using accoustic partitions, keeping all noise to a minimum inside working hours, using dismantle techniques instead of demolition and wherever possible opening areas once they have become available. Whatever the challenge, the service Mace offers ensures that at all times the programme is being pushed to accommodate the needs of the client and the specific institution.

Mace has worked in partnership with the London Library for the past five years and is proud of its involvement with such a historic and prestigious project. Faced with the expected challenges of developing the world's largest independent subscription library in a compact congested location, Mace has been able to hone expertise in sympathetic construction and in creating a truly tailormade method of delivery for an important client. With the second phase of the library's development almost complete, the physical enhancements to the building can now truly be seen for the benefit of the London Library and all who enter its doors.

Mace knows it takes dedication, experience and vision to create a gallery, theatre or museum that really captures the public imagination. For this reason these projects demand only the most thoughtful and innovative approaches to delivery. For Mace, this is a creative journey, and a well-organised partnership between architect, project manager, and the wider client team.

To find out more about Mace's arts and culture capabilities please contact:

Jim Ledger, Director
Jim.Ledger@macegroup.com
+44 (0)20 7068 6296