Jorvik Viking Centre, York, North Yorkshire

Structural Glass Design supplied and installed a bespoke walk-on structural glass floor supported by structural glass beams as part of the redevelopment of the Royal Marines Museum at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard. The frameless glazing system was engineered to maximise transparency and natural light within the restored historic building while providing a durable load-bearing solution for public use.

tructural Glass Design were commissioned to supply and install bespoke walk-on structural glass flooring as part of the redevelopment and visitor experience enhancement at the internationally renowned Jorvik Viking Centre in York. The project required the integration of high-performance structural glazing above sensitive archaeological remains, allowing visitors to safely walk across the glass floor while viewing the preserved Viking excavations beneath.

The frameless structural glass panels were designed to sit directly onto discreet upstand supports, eliminating the need for visible intermediate framing and ensuring uninterrupted views into the archaeological displays below. Engineered using laminated toughened structural glass assemblies designed for heavy public pedestrian loading, the glazing system delivered exceptional transparency, durability and long-term safety within the busy museum environment.

Working within a historically significant and operational visitor attraction required close coordination and specialist installation methods to protect the archaeological environment throughout the construction process. The completed structural glass floor installation forms a key architectural feature within the Jorvik Viking Centre, combining modern structural glazing technology with the preservation and presentation of one of the UK’s most important Viking heritage sites.

• LOCATION: YORK, NORTH YORKSHIRE
• SYSTEM: FRAMELESS SHAPED WALK ON STRUCTURAL GLASS FLOORS
• APPLICATION: PUBLIC REALM / MUSEUM
• GLASS TYPE: LAMINATED TOUGHENED STRUCTURAL GLASS
• LOADING: PEDESTRIAN FOOT TRAFFIC
• SECTOR: COMMERCIAL / CULTURAL

The Challenge

The Jorvik Viking Centre project required the installation of a walk-on structural glass floor above sensitive archaeological excavations within one of the UK’s most important heritage visitor attractions. The challenge was to create a completely transparent viewing platform that would allow visitors to experience uninterrupted views of the preserved Viking remains below while safely accommodating continuous heavy pedestrian traffic within a busy public museum environment. The glazing system also needed to minimise visible framing and structural interruptions in order to preserve the visual connection between visitors and the archaeological exhibits beneath the floor.

Structural Glass Design engineered and installed bespoke frameless walk-on structural glass floor panels designed to sit directly onto discreet perimeter upstands, removing the need for visible intermediate framing and maximising transparency across the viewing area. Using laminated toughened structural glass assemblies specifically designed for public pedestrian loading, the system delivered exceptional structural performance, safety and optical clarity while maintaining uninterrupted sightlines into the archaeological excavation below. Precision detailing and specialist installation techniques ensured the glazing integrated seamlessly within the exhibition environment, successfully combining contemporary structural glass engineering with the preservation and presentation of historic Viking heritage.