National Maritime Museum, Greenwich

Interiors have breathed new life into Ocean Court building at the world famous National Maritime Museum, extending their credentials for transforming heritage building into modern environments fit for the future.

A Project of National Significance

The Ocean Court is the beloved heart of the National Maritime Museum, one of Britain's most treasured cultural institutions. As part of the Maritime Greenwich UNESCO World Heritage Site, this Grade I listed building attracts millions of visitors annually.

The Challenge

The Ocean Court faced significant long-standing issues that were impacting millions of annual visitors and threatening the museum's precious collections:

• Persistent water ingress - decades of leaking through the existing glazed roof system
• Excessive solar heat gain - making the space uncomfortable for visitors and staff during warmer months
• Poor acoustic performance - noise levels that detracted from the visitor experience
• Aging building services - inefficient heating, cooling and ventilation systems requiring major upgrade
• Outdated electrical infrastructure - lighting and power systems no longer meeting modern standards
• Heritage constraints - all work had to respect the Grade I listed status while maintaining full museum operations

What We Delivered

Our team successfully completed this complex Grade I listed building transformation, delivering:

• Over 2,550 sq m of solar-protective glazing - replacing more than 23,000 square feet of roof glazing to resolve decades-old water ingress issues
• Complete Barrisol membrane installation - providing enhanced weather protection and acoustic performance
• Comprehensive building services upgrades - including underfloor heating and cooling systems, ventilation, and air handling units
• Full electrical systems renewal - upgrading lighting, power, and data infrastructure throughout the space
• Capital plant deep clean and service - including chillers, air coolers, and replacement of plate heat exchangers
• Heritage-sensitive delivery - maintaining full operational access for millions of annual visitors while protecting this UNESCO World Heritage Site building
• Outstanding social value - supporting over 200 local people through career workshops, site visits, and placements, generating £900,000+ in social return on investment
• Complete sustainability focus - full recycling of all extracted glazing units

The project required exceptional technical expertise to resolve decades-old challenges. The installation of over 2,550 sq m of solar-protective glazing has transformed the visitor experience while respecting the building's Grade I status. Our team's successful delivery of this complex glazed roof upgrade demonstrates exactly why we're trusted with the nation's most precious architectural heritage.

Our Heritage Leadership

This project builds on our growing portfolio of prestigious heritage successes, including the recent Soho Theatre transformation and our track record across iconic venues like Bristol Beacon, Alexandra Palace, and the Design Museum conversion.

Our heritage expertise is founded on solid market fundamentals - Historic England data shows that historic buildings represent a £10 billion annual investment in England's repair and maintenance sector, accounting for 20% of all repair and maintenance output and 7% of total construction activity. This is a market opportunity that plays to our core strengths.

Social mobility

Interiors is also delivering a series of social value-led activities alongside the main works. The contractor and its supply chain are engaging local communities in initiatives ranging from career and employability workshops, to work experience placements for students.

Roger Forsdyke, chief operations officer at Willmott Dixon Interiors:

“The central court is the much-loved heart of the National Maritime Museum, with many visitors passing beneath its huge glass roof every year. This project ensured the best possible experience for those people, as well as the museum’s staff and the collections they care for.”

The contract to deliver the works was awarded by public-sector procurement specialist, SCAPE. Mark Robinson, group chief executive at SCAPE:

“We are delighted to be working closely with our partner, Willmott Dixon Interiors, to accelerate the delivery of the National Maritime Museum’s roof through our Major Works Framework. At SCAPE, we are committed to delivering social value across each one of our projects and this refurbishment is a fantastic example of how this can be achieved with local community initiatives and career opportunities.”