A race against time is now beginning to try and fit-out the museum to ensure it opens this year as The Hub Consulting Limited take on the work to get all 18 galleries and library along with a new café, shop and event space ready.
Cabinet member for culture and arts at the city council, councillor Anna Hindle, said: “This handover is a momentous step in the Harris Your Place journey. We are thrilled to welcome the fit-out contractor who will shape our vision into reality, transforming the Harris into a vibrant, 21st-century hub for learning, creativity, and community engagement.
“This milestone reflects the tireless efforts of all involved, from the meticulous decant
of over 250,000 objects to the structural improvements completed by Conlon Construction.”
The keys to the Harris were handed back to the city council in a ceremonial event involving councillors, council staff, Conlon and the new contractors.
The Harris project has been hit by delays and challenges around the nature of the building – with asbestos discovered and spiralling costs due to additional works being needed.
Additional funding was secured to bridge budget gaps to ensure the £16million revamp remained on track for the museum, library and art gallery to be restored – with the Heritage Lottery Fund being the largest backer. The original budget had been around £10m.
Chairman of Conlon Construction, Michael Conlon, said: “As a Preston-based company, it has been an honour for Conlon Construction to play our part in the ‘Harris Your Place’ project. We believe we have prepared our city’s most iconic landmark for the next chapter in its remarkable history. It’s great to be handing over our completed project for its final fit-out before a much-anticipated re-opening.
“This is a testament to the commitment and perseverance of our entire team through this project’s many and varied challenges. This included a late and unexpected requirement for our client to replace the original fit-out contractor.
“One key success of the project has been our ability to massively surpass the council’s social value expectations. 88 per cent of our suppliers were within a 30-mile radius of Preston, receiving £10.1 million of the project’s over £11 million funding. This meant a huge portion of the council’s total investment in the project was re-injected back into the local economy.
“Additionally, we managed to provide 150 weeks of apprentice training during the project. In doing so we supported many local young people to build essential skills and experience in construction and renovation.
“I believe the outcome for the Harris is a revitalised structure which enhances its rich historical legacy. The result will be many more years of The Harris enriching the lives of both local people and visitors to the city.”
At one stage the project looked to be in limbo when Blog Preston revealed in September the previous fit-out contractor Beck Interiors had entered administration.
But the city council and Conlon negotiated an agreement – as we confirmed in December – to keep the project moving despite the city council having already paid hundreds of thousands of pounds to Beck.
The city council said not signing the deal would have incurred “a potentially lengthy and costly legal dispute, further extending the project programme and incurring additional costs.”
Read more: Two years on from the Harris closing for major restoration we went exploring
Gallery fit-outs can now begin
New fit-out contractors The Hub Consulting Limited, based in Redditch, Worcestershire, say they are up for the challenge of ensuring the Harris looks its best.
Director Harry Coughlin said: “We are thrilled to take this next step in the Harris Your Place transformation. Our enthusiastic team is excited to collaborate with project partners to take on the role of Principal Contractor to manage and coordinate the delivery and installation of the new exhibitions.
“This pivotal phase brings together a talented group of museum specialists to create 18 inspiring galleries that foster learning and creativity, becoming a cherished destination for the local community while showcasing the museum’s extensive collection.
“Throughout the project, we will work hand in hand with the community to enhance their pride and involvement in the Harris, offering behind-the-scenes tours and work opportunities to ensure the project leaves a lasting impact on Preston. We can’t wait to share more with the public as the project progresses.”
Part of the funding for the museum revamp comes from Lancashire County Council who operate the Harris library from within the building in a shared-service agreement with the city council.
They have contributed £1.37m towards the restoration project and will lease 40 per cent of the reopened building in what is the largest library in Lancashire.
Cabinet member for community and cultural services, county councillor Peter Buckley, said: “This is a key moment in realising the ambitious redevelopment of The Harris, which will ensure that this iconic
landmark remains the civic focal point for Preston.
“We remain committed to the project and to bridging the building up to modern standards while preserving its heritage, demonstrated by the significant contributions we’ve made.
“Through our collaborative efforts we are now starting to this project come to fruition and I’m excited for people to enjoy the new library and see everything else The Harris will have to offer.
“I’d also like to say thank you to all our library users and staff for continuing to use and run our library service at the Guild Hall while this important work is carried out.”
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