Watch inside the Harris ahead of the museum, art gallery and library’s re-opening

A mezzanine floor has been removed in the galleries to allow in more natural light and reveal the true grandeur and height of the building.

New toilet facilities have been put in place, including a Changing Places toilet for disabled people.

The Harris pendulum will be back in place although moved to be in the centre of the rotunda as you come into the building.

Watch the clip ‘Hidden Works’ below or on the Harris YouTube channel

In the video the Harris volunteers are also praised for their role in the restoration – from dusting to scrubbing steps there’s been a team effort by hundreds of people to help get the city’s cultural heart ready to open.

The Harris project saw the costs rapidly rise from the initial works ending up with a total bill of more than £19million with the bulk of the funding coming from Preston City Council and the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Works uncovered asbestos and other challenges as they began the restoration works on the 131-year-old building. The Harris project also saw the fit-out contractor go bust in September last year, leading to a scramble to find a replacement fit-out contractor and a delay to the re-opening while this was found.

Preston City Council say it is aiming for 500,000 visitors a year to the new-look Harris once it re-opens.

The re-opening on Sunday 28 September will see Nick Park cut the ribbon and the first exhibition will see a special Wallace and Gromit theme celebrating their connection with Preston.

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