Project Management Consultant Turner & Townsend has secured the role of Project Monitor on behalf of Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) on the restoration of Gracehill School, refurbishment of The Playhouse Theatre, Derry and redevelopment of the Ulster Museum.

The £14.5m redevelopment of the existing Ulster Museum is the largest ever Heritage Lottery Funded Project in Northern Ireland. Works to the Museum commenced in October 2007 with public opening in June 2009. The redevelopment includes creating a new atrium, orientation space, café, retail outlets, education facilities and a public support space together with a 2,500m2 refresh of the Science and History galleries.

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The school located in Gracehill was deemed Northern Ireland's first conservation area in 1975 and has since won many awards including the Europa Nostra Award. The school was originally built in 1765 as a Single Sisters House and is currently undergoing a £4m restoration with completion due in May 2008.

The third project will involve the £4m redevelopment and extension to the Playhouse Theatre in Derry which opened in 1992. As one of Northern Ireland's leading Arts centres, the theatre currently occupies two B1 listed buildings in Derry City and is undergoing its first refurbishment and extension which is due to complete in December 2008.

Jackie Clarke, Director of Turner & Townsend commented: "These are three very demanding and exciting projects and their successful restoration and refurbishment will boost the status of all the venues and act as a catalyst for further regeneration in their areas."

Turner & Townsend is a construction and management consultancy with offices in Belfast, Dublin and Waterford.

(JM)