Sustainable Growth For Rider Levett Bucknall

The sensitivity that Rider Levett Bucknall brings to its work in the construction industry has been recognised by the company's appointment by Chichester District Council to provide quantity surveying expertise during the planning and development of a new Museum worthy of this historic city.

"As a Council with a vision for this project but with a good track record of project and budget control, we needed a quantity surveyor with both the technical abilities and the skills to be a key player in our project team" said Councillor Nick Thomas, Portfolio Holder for Culture and Sport at Chichester District Council.

"Rider Levett Bucknall were the successful tenderers from a strong field and their specialism in cultural projects was attractive to the Council".

Stretching back 500,000 years to the time of Boxgrove Man, Chichester's history includes one of the longest records of human-ancestry and human occupation in Britain. Roman, Saxon and later communities are all represented in the district and will be encompassed in this major new initiative. Indeed, the museum will be built on the site of the city's ancient Roman Baths, with the excavated archaeological remains forming the focus of the stunning foyer.

Within a building of 1100 sq. metres on Chichester's historic Tower Street there will be extensive display areas, appropriate storage for non-archaeological collections, public facilities and staff offices as well as education and resource spaces and a shop.

RLB works comfortably within Chichester District Council's resolve to make the new building highly sensitive to its historic surroundings but at the same time practical, accessible, welcoming, inspiring and enjoyable.

Key objectives include promoting sustainability, ensuring that the building is economical to operate, repair and maintain and ensuring that as much as possible of the energy used in its operation is met from on-site renewable sources such as photovoltaic cells on the roof and ground-source boreholes for both heating and cooling.

Work on the project, valued at £6.6m, is due to start in September 2008 with an estimated completion date of March 2010.

Carrie Weldon, Quantity Surveyor for Rider Levett Bucknall in London, comments:

"We are excited to be working on a project where there is such commitment to preserving historic archaeology and future resources through promotion of sustainability and renewable sources."

Other members of the project team are:

  • Architect – Keith Williams Associates
  • Project Manager – Nigel Rippon of Robinson Low Francis
  • Exhibition Designer – Event Communications Ltd
  • Building Services Engineer – Gifford and Partner
  • Structural Engineer - Techniker
  • Archaeological Consultant – Development Archaeology Services
  • Museum Conservation Consultants – Halahan Associates