Howe Green supplies floor access covers for National museum of Art, Stockholm

Howe Green Ltd supplied specially manufactured floor access covers for Sweden’s premier art and design museum, currently undergoing a restoration programme.

The museum, originally opened in 1866, is undergoing renovation to meet operational and regulatory standards and create a more modern environment whilst retaining the museum’s architectural heritage.

The renovations began in 2015 and the new museum is expected to open in 2018. A climate control system will be installed to regulate the internal environment, in addition to the reinstating of bricked up windows to create more natural light, new security technology and the expansion of the public spaces to house exhibits and visitor amenities.

The National Property Board of Sweden, a Swedish state agency who are responsible for the preservation of state-owned cultural heritage sites, are the developers. They are working with Swedish architects Wingardh Arkitektkontor AB and Wikerstal Arkitekter AB.

Howe Green’s Swedish distributor, Elkington AB, supplied floor access covers for the project. Having worked with Howe Green since 1999, Elkington had full understanding of bespoke access solutions that Howe Green can design and manufacture, as well as knowledge of the range of standard access covers that can be supplied.

Otto von Platen, Managing Director for Elkington comments, “We are always happy to recommend Howe Green access covers. After 18 years of working together we are confident that Howe Green covers fulfil those requirements.”

Howe Green’s 7500 Series Medium Duty Flood Aluminium Access Covers were fitted as duct runs in the museum. The majority of the covers were infilled with limestone floor tiles to provide a virtually invisible finish. The remaining units have a visible concrete finish. All the covers were supplied double sealed to ensure the highest performance and quality.

Health and safety is paramount within any public area. The seamless fit of the floor access covers will help to reduce the risks of slip and trip hazards.

The covers also provide easy and safe access to the cabling and services concealed underneath the ducts. Once the renovation work is complete and the museum is open the covers will ensure that services can be accessed with the minimum of disruption to the daily operation of the museum.