Maritime Museum refurb opens to tender

LANDMARK: Hull’s Maritime Museum, which was opened in 1871

Businesses are being invited to submit tenders to embark on an extensive refurbishment of one of Hull’s most significant buildings, the Maritime Museum.

The revamp of the Hull Maritime Museum, including Dock Office Chambers, will reveal more of its original architecture and create new and improved visitor facilities.

The second floor of the building will open to the public as well as access to the building’s domes. This major refurbishment will also create an interactive museum.

Plans also include a new three-storey foyer drawing people into the heart of the building and its central core, providing a visually stunning and thematic introduction to the galleries beyond. This will be created by reopening up the original light well that helped to illuminate the Victorian dock offices. New viewing balconies in this central area will help visitors to orientate themselves within the new galleries, and allow them to enjoy the splendours of the original architecture.

The Hull: Yorkshire’s Maritime City project, funded by Hull City Council and the National Lottery Heritage Fund, is a key cultural regeneration scheme in the heart of the city centre that will protect and celebrate 800 years of Hull’s maritime heritage.

Councillor Daren Hale, Portfolio Holder for Economic Investment, Regeneration, Planning, Land and Property, said: “This is a key milestone in the project as we move forward with another exciting regeneration project in the city. The transformation of key maritime treasures will have a considerable impact on the city centre, its economy as well as attracting additional visitors.

“This significant investment to the much-loved and well known museum and former dock offices will give the city a world-class museum it deserves, right in the heart of its city centre.”

Prior to works starting, 50,000 objects will need to be carefully packed and moved from the museum. The refurbishment is expected to take 18 months to complete, and then the task to install the new displays and exhibitions will get underway, which is expected to take about a year to complete. The museum is expected to reopen in early 2024. 

The tender documents are available at www.yortender.co.uk and the deadline for tenders is Monday, September 28.