Mortice were appointed to support the River & Rowing Museum (RRM) at a critical moment in its lifecycle. With the main museum building over two decades old, RRM recognised that significant elements of its estate and infrastructure were approaching the end of their operational life. Our brief was to review the estate, identify key risks and opportunities, and develop a clear rationale for future investment.

Our primary aim was to move the conversation beyond reactive maintenance and towards a structured, strategic estate development plan. We wanted to help the museum protect its collections, buildings and people, while also improving environmental performance and long‑term financial sustainability. Ultimately, our work needed to equip senior leadership and trustees with the evidence required to make confident, informed decisions.

Our Approach

We approached the project by first establishing a clear, shared understanding of the existing estate and the pressures acting upon it. Through site visits, documentation review and stakeholder consultation, we built a rounded picture of how the estate was performing, where risks were emerging, and how it interfaced with organisational objectives.

Using this baseline, we worked to translate complex considerations into a manageable set of options. We tested different approaches to maintenance, replacement and improvement, considering not only technical feasibility but also wider implications for cost, environmental impact and day‑to‑day use of the building. Throughout, we were careful to balance ambition with realism, recognising the challenges of cultural organisations.

We focused on providing clear research, options and implications, and recommendations rather than fully formed designs. This allowed the organisation to explore potential future directions for its estate, understand the risks and trade‑offs involved, and develop a robust foundation for decision‑making and longer‑term planning.

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River and Rowing Museum

Museum Association – River and Rowing Museum closure