Curtins have acted as the Tate Liverpool Gallery Structural Engineer for the last 19 years. We were appointed to convert the former derelict grade 1 listed dock warehouse into the Museum of Modern Art for the Tate Gallery.

The project was undertaken in two phased contracts:

Phase 1

Phase 1 included structural refurbishment works. Major structural repairs were undertaken in this initial contract comprising:

• Repairs and resin injection of the cracked masonry and vacuum resin injection to encapsulate embedded ironwork in the external walls.
• Repairs to the floor structure including strengthening and replacing under-arch tie bars; installation of enhanced lateral restraint ties systems.
• Testing, cleaning and re-priming all exposed iron work.
• Strengthening and refurbishment of the original Hartley stress skinned roof structures.
• Full scale load tests on the timber piled foundations.

Phase 2

Phase 2 consisted of conversion and fitting out works. The second contract was to convert and fit out the building for use as an art gallery. The main work included:

• Removal of a complete vertical slice in the centre of the building to accommodate passenger, goods lifts; seven staircases; vertical service risers.
• Formation of major openings in the main load bearing internal wall.
• Formation of courtyard loading bay including major opening in the external wall.
• Plant rooms at the basement, third floor and roof levels.
• New portal framed roof structures to the riverside block.
• Galleries at Ground, 1st and 2nd floor levels