Harris Your Place Project Welcomes Top-Notch Fit-Out Team
The refurbishment of The Harris has taken another step forward with the appointment of a fit-out team that will help cement the Museum’s position as one of the region’s leading visitor attractions and a contemporary cultural hub.
The Harris Your Place fit-out team comprises BECK, Orbis, Four Agency Worldwide, Click Netherfield and Lancashire County Council’s conservation team. The team will redefine the Museum’s spaces using Ralph Applebaum Associates’ (RAA) designs to enhance the visitor experience. The project will be due to complete in early 2025.
The Harris Your Place project will preserve the Harris’ heritage while embracing innovation and supported by £16 million funding, it will refurbish and reimagine The Harris, a Grade I listed building. Beyond restoration, the project will also enhance accessibility, improve services, and respond to the diverse needs of the community. With an emphasis on engaging the local community and visitors alike, the goal is to create a cultural hub, aiming to attract an additional 100,000 visitors.
BECK Is leading the implementation of RAA’s innovative design, the manufacture, installation and commissioning of the bespoke interior finishes, audio visual, interactives, exhibition power, lighting and the graphics within the Harris. Its work will also include the exhibition infrastructure, bespoke library shelving and new café and retail displays which complement the interior design of the spaces.
Dal Chana, Group Director at BECK, said: “We are delighted to be working with Preston City Council and the professional teams on protecting this beloved building at the heart of the community, whilst creating a modern, cultural learning space for today’s audience.”
Councillor Peter Kelly, Cabinet Member for Culture and Leisure Services at Preston City Council said: “We’re thrilled to have such a distinguished team onboard for the Harris Your Place project. Each contractor and subcontractor brings a unique set of skills that will elevate The Harris into a cutting-edge cultural and learning space. The combined expertise of these companies is a testament to our commitment to ensuring The Harris becomes a thriving cultural hub.”
Across the building, visitor engagement will be promoted by a blend of high-tech and low-tech platforms, including a digital offer, but also being a space to ‘log off’ and enjoy authentic, hands-on experiences wherever possible. The integration of cutting-edge technology and diverse interactive elements will ensure an enriching experience, setting the stage for a revitalised Harris, a space that fosters curiosity, learning, and cultural appreciation for generations to come.
ABOUT THE CONTRACTORS
Orbis – Mount Making Services
Orbis brings an attention to detail to the Harris Your Place project, offering Mount Making services. They excel in templating objects and crafting unique mounts designed by exhibition designers, Ralph Appelbaum Associates. Orbis ensures each object is properly showcased, securing the cultural treasures of The Harris in a visually appealing and safe manner.
Lancashire County Council – Conservation Services
Lancashire County Council’s skilled team are experts in preserving and conserving objects destined for display in the new Harris. With a blend of artistry and scientific methodologies, Lancashire County Council ensures each object retains its historical integrity and cultural significance for future generations.
Four Agency Worldwide – AV Software Design and Installation
At the forefront of the Harris Your Place project, Four Comms specialises in the design, delivery, installation, and testing of audio/video (AV) software for the new interactives at The Harris. With careful planning and innovative solutions, Four Comms aims to elevate visitor experiences through state of the art interactive elements.
Click Netherfield – Showcase Contractor
Renowned for its expertise in design engineering, in-house fabrication, and on-site installation of bespoke, conservation grade showcases; Click Netherfield showcases will display and protect the collections of the new Harris. Ranging in size, complexity, and scale, from built-in display cases to the library shelves to large free-standing showcases, the showcases have been designed and manufactured to meet and exceed the project specifications and include integrated wireless alarms, temperature and humidity monitoring, custom lighting solutions and flexible display systems to present, protect and preserve The Harris’ collections.
The collaboration includes several prominent subcontractors:
– Unusual Projects: Spearheading the interactive elements, Unusual Projects brings its unique approach to engage visitors.
– Fortecho Solutions: Securing the Harris’ collections through a suite of wireless protection systems.
– Fusion Lx: Tasked with AV hardware, Fusion Lx focuses on integrating cutting-edge technology to enrich the visitor journey.
– SI Electrical: Pioneers in lighting and electrical solutions, SI Electrical aims to illuminate the spaces in the new Harris Museum. SI Electricals’ knowledge and experience are unmatched when it comes to their understanding of the complexities of cultural projects such as The Harris Your Place Project, particularly in specialist areas such as lighting and control, case, exhibit, AV and interactive integration.
– Caterware: Handling the catering equipment, Caterware ensures seamless and efficient service within the premises.
– Displayways: Responsible for graphics, Displayways adds visual storytelling elements, enhancing the immersive experience at The Harris.
Harris Your Place
Harris Your Place is a £16million project set to restore and reimagine the Harris for 21st-century audiences as a cultural learning space. The aim of this project is to protect the building and the architecture for future generations whilst enhancing accessibility options and positioning the Harris as a community hub for Preston and Lancashire.
The capital project is more than simply preserving this much-loved building; the Harris wants to ensure that it remains a vibrant heart of the community. A place where people want to spend their time.
First Look at the Ground Floor Rotunda
