Painted Hall, Old Royal Naval College, Greenwich – Award-Winning Restoration
The Painted Hall at the Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich is often described as the “Sistine Chapel of the UK”. Designed by Sir Christopher Wren and decorated by Sir James Thornhill between 1707 and 1726, it features over 3,700m² of painted surfaces, making it one of Europe’s most important Baroque interiors.
As a Grade I listed heritage site and visitor attraction, the Painted Hall requires a balance of conservation, safety and modern facilities management to ensure its preservation for future generations while welcoming thousands of visitors each year. Coniston FM played a central role in supporting this £2.8 million, 82-week project, which has since won both RIBA National and Regional Awards as well as Museums + Heritage Awards recognition.
Scope of Works
This project combined specialist conservation with upgrades to visitor facilities, requiring sensitive management in a live cultural environment.
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Conservation of 3,700m² of painted surfaces: Climate control, draft proofing and solar shading installed to stabilise the internal environment and reduce future degradation.
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Specialist scaffold installation: A bespoke access solution was created to reach the painted ceilings and dome, designed to preserve the architecture and enable visitor engagement during works.
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New visitor facilities: Creation of a multi-use space, catering kitchen, café and shop to enhance the visitor experience.
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M&E upgrades: Installation of a modern heating system and infrastructure to support environmental controls.
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Live heritage environment: Works delivered while allowing public access, with visitors able to view conservation at close range.
Why Coniston FM?
The Painted Hall project required a partner who could integrate heritage conservation with modern facilities management solutions. Coniston FM’s expertise in planned preventative maintenance, HVAC optimisation, environmental monitoring and fire safety compliance ensured that the upgraded systems supported both preservation and visitor comfort.
Our ability to deliver complex projects in live cultural environments — balancing conservation needs with daily operations — made us the ideal choice. By combining technical expertise with sensitivity to heritage, we provided solutions that safeguard the Painted Hall’s unique legacy while supporting its ongoing use as a public attraction.
Enquire With Us
If you are managing a museum, gallery or heritage venue, you need a facilities management partner who understands the complexities of conservation, compliance and visitor safety. Coniston FM delivers end-to-end FM services, from building fabric maintenance to environmental controls, helping cultural landmarks remain safe, compliant and accessible.