The National Portrait Gallery is the world’s largest collection of portraits, housed in a building built in 1896, behind the neighbouring National Gallery. Over 1,000 works are now on display as a result of the refurbishment.
Price & Myers was part of the competition-winning team led by Jamie Fobert Architects, with conservation architects Purcell, environmental engineers Max Fordham, and contractor Gilbert-Ash. The project is the biggest refurbishment in the building’s history.
The major architectural and structural intervention involved the relocation of the entrance, from a discreet doorway facing St-Martins-in-the-Field church to a more expansive trio of doors fronting a new public plaza to the north. At the time of its construction in the 19th Century, the lower reaches of Leicester Square adjacent to the Gallery featured a large slum. The architect, Ewan Christian located the original doorway accordingly. Jamie Fobert’s design gives the Gallery the arrival sequence it deserves, while providing accessibility requirements and a more prominent street presence.
The plaza is supported by a reinforced concrete slab spanning between mini piles, with heave protection below. Stairs and an accessible ramp rise to a reinforced concrete link bridge over a lightwell at the new entrance. The new forecourt extends the root protection zone of several large plane trees that border the plaza. Extensive abori-cultural survey work has been carried out and the plaza slab levels, and pile positions have been established to avoid damage to tree roots.
A 10-metre-wide opening has been created in two 750mm thick loadbearing masonry walls as part of the new entrance hall. It is supported by double steel box frames which required careful sequencing and temporary works, especially to avoid an extensive plant room located below the entrance hall which had to remain operational during the construction works. The result is a dramatic entrance volume that draws the visitor into the space, one that befits the importance of the institution.
‘There were more than a few squeaky bum moments on the day the load was transferred from the temporary works and on to the new frames. In the morning, I watched the manually operated jacking process with nervous anticipation. I was absolutely buzzing when it was complete. I brought all of my team down to watch the process, including someone who had just started with us that day, their first as a professional structural engineer! It was a big day.’ – Luke Spence, structural engineer and Partner
Another technically challenging element of the design was the exposed concrete staircase linking the basement levels of the expanded Learning Centre. The stair was cast in-situ, over a polystyrene void former, to achieve the swept soffit which tapers from the inside supporting wall to the edge of the treads. Each tread is inlaid with stone nosings, and gently curved steel balustrades and handrails complete the otherwise wholly structural concrete element. The language of exposed concrete links several discrete structural interventions – the tapered link bridge which connects the forecourt to the new entrance hall, box frames forming new openings within the learning centre, and a concrete slab within the East Wing café, arched to echo the adjacent brick vaults.
‘It’s been a privilege to have been involved from conception of the project through to opening day. I’ve been involved with every structural detail, from the entrance hall frames supporting over 200 tonnes of Grade I-listed fabric to sculptures being fixed to Gallery walls.’ – George Reed, project structural engineer.
