​Client: Royal College of Surgeons
Services: Project & Cost Management & Specialist Package Management
Value: Undisclosed
Completion: May 2023

The new Hunterian Museum, including the retail space and ancillary display areas, form a major part of the Royal College of Surgeons £65m Transforming the Building development project. The post war buildings have been demolished and a new building designed by award winning architects Hawkins Brown has been erected. The Royal College of Surgeons collections are displayed throughout the new building.

In 2017, the Royal College of Surgeons of England commissioned Fraser Randall to undertake a review, reporting on the Hunterian Museum and its ancillary spaces. Soon after, they were appointed as the Hunterian Museum Project & Cost Managers, responsible for providing strategic direction against the project objectives, meeting the Royal College of Surgeons’ needs for a museum that integrated seamlessly into a new building, with an ambitious modern vision for its visitors. Our scope included the management of elements of the gallery basebuild works as well as the eight separate galleries exploring the history of surgery, contemporary surgical practice and related disciplines. We supported the RCS in the development and execution of the procurement strategy, working closely with the client to develop design briefs and tender documentation. We led on the appointment of a world-class design, consultant and build team. Alongside the full Project and Cost Management services, we were also responsible for directly managing a series of specialist trade contractors including showcases, AV hardware, digital media and object mounts.

The Hunterian Museum includes the display of over 3,000 anatomical preparations made by the 18th century surgeon anatomist John Hunter, from whom the museum takes its name. The specimens are displayed alongside instruments, equipment, models, paintings and archive material, which trace the history of surgery from ancient times to the latest robot-assisted operations.

The museum opened to the public on 16th May 2023.

Images: Hufton & Crow