National Maritime Museum
Framework: SCAPE National Construction Framework
Client: National Maritime Museum
Location: Greenwich, London
Value: £8.5m
Completion: 2025
“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.”
Roger Forsdyke
Chief Operations Officer, Willmott Dixon Interiors
Improving the existing central space within the Grade I-listed building, this project breathed new life into the Ocean Court building at the world-famous museum.
Delivered for the National Maritime Museum by Willmott Dixon Interiors through the SCAPE National Construction Framework, works included a major glazed roof replacement, new weather protection systems and electrical upgrades, resolving long-standing building issues while enhancing the visitor experience.
The Ocean Court building 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.
Ocean Court faced long-standing issues that affected visitors and threatened the museum's precious collections. This included:
- Persistent water ingress from decades of leaking through the existing glazed roof system
- Excessive solar heat gain that made the space uncomfortable for visitors and staff during warmer months
- Poor acoustic performance, with noise often reaching levels that detracted from the visitor experience
- Ageing building services with inefficient heating, cooling and ventilation systems that required a major upgrade
- Outdated electrical infrastructure, with lighting and power systems no longer meeting modern standards
The project sought to address these issues to protect the building and future-proof it for years to come.
The project required exceptional technical expertise to resolve decades-old challenges and deliver a complex roof upgrade while respecting the building’s Grade I-listed and UNESCO World Heritage Site status. Throughout the project, the museum also needed to maintain full operational access for millions of annual visitors.
By successfully addressing these challenges, the project demonstrates Willmott Dixon Interiors’ capabilities for transforming heritage buildings into modern environments fit for the future.
The Willmott Dixon Interiors team successfully delivered:
- 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
- A 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
- A capital plant deep clean and service, including chillers, air coolers, and replacement of plate heat exchangers
- Sustainability in construction, with full recycling of all extracted glazing units
Social value initiatives
School and College programmes
As part of Willmott Dixon Interiors’ ongoing commitment to inspiring the next generation and promoting careers in construction, the team was proud to support Directions and Destinations Day 2025 at Carshalton College.
For students from Year 9 to Year 13, the team delivered two back-to-back workshops focused on routes into construction, the Willmott Dixon Trainee Scheme and a deep dive into local projects. These sessions gave students a behind-the-scenes look at the scope of work involved in live construction projects and the varied career routes available, particularly within the trades and apprenticeships.
In parallel, a Willmott Dixon representative attended the school’s Careers Fair to provide additional one-to-one guidance and answer questions about working in the construction sector.
University engagement
Willmott Dixon was invited to speak to second-year Civil Engineering students at the University of Greenwich, offering an insightful session about careers in construction. A team of eight representatives from Willmott Dixon attended, bringing a diverse range of roles and experiences from different areas of the business.
The project team also partnered with the University of Greenwich to deliver two site visits for students studying Quantity Surveying. The visits provided students with valuable insight into live construction environments, helping them connect classroom theory with real-world practice.
The sessions covered project overviews, commercial processes, health and safety, and the role of a Quantity Surveyor on site. Students could ask questions, explore the complexities of project delivery, and gain a clearer understanding of the skills required to succeed in the field.
Supporting Greenwich Community Hospice
Willmott Dixon, together with valued supply chain partners, joined forces to support Greenwich & Bexley Community Hospice with a donation aimed at bringing comfort, joy, and festive spirit to families during a difficult time.
The team donated a variety of thoughtful gifts, including toys for children of all ages, books, chocolates, personal care items, games, puzzles and more. Altogether, the donations totalled £715 and were delivered just in time for Christmas.
Work experience
Willmott Dixon Interiors hosted Level 2 BTEC Engineering students as part of a structured work experience programme. Over two weeks, students explored careers in construction and tackled a sustainability challenge, designing and pitching their vision for a “School for the Future.”
All students successfully presented their proposals to a panel of Willmott Dixon professionals. Each team demonstrated creativity, teamwork, and problem-solving skills as they pitched their vision for the School for the Future. The presentations showcased innovative design solutions with a strong emphasis on sustainability, cost-effectiveness, and functionality.
Sustainability in construction
As part of this year’s Green Careers Week, Willmott Dixon took part in a panel discussion hosted by the University of Greenwich, designed to inspire students to explore careers that contribute to a more sustainable future, and to show how sustainability is not just a responsibility, but a critical driver in shaping the future of construction and the wider industry.
Held as part of the university’s Sustainability Careers-themed Green Week, the session aimed to highlight the growing demand for sustainability-aware graduates and the important role they play in delivering positive environmental change across the sector.
Social value outcomes
This project has been submitted by Willmott Dixon as part of the collaborative Social Value in Construction Benchmarking Report. This report captures the latest insights into the regional and national trends in social value delivery; learn more here.
200
students supported through career workshops, site visits and placements
£1m+
social value generated
£715
in Christmas gift donations to local hospice
5
work experience placements hosted
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Meet the lead:
Kevin Hutchinson
Framework Manager
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