UK's National Railway Museum Launches Design Competition for New Central Hall

UK's National Railway Museum Launches Design Competition for New Central Hall

The National Railway Museum has launched a two-stage competition for a new centerpiece building for York museum, which aims to become the 'World's Railway Museum' by 2025.

The museum, part of the Science Museum Group, is poised to become the cultural anchor for York Central, one of the largest city-center brownfield regeneration projects in the UK and Europe. York Central will re-route a major road that currently bisects the museum's site, separating two of its main galleries, Great Hall and Station Hall. The new Central Hall, a circa 4,500 sqm building with a £16.5 million construction budget, will bridge the space between these two exhibition halls.

The new addition is intended to create an appealing and compelling arrival experience and improve legibility and connectivity across the wider site. This historic opportunity to integrate the estate - together with the wider regeneration, which is projected to give a £1bn+ boost to the local economy - will enable the museum to renew its physical presence and identity.

The new building will include reception spaces, as well as a spectacular 1,000 sqm gallery intended to showcase future acquisitions and innovative technology and introduce the museum's world-class collection. Shortlisted teams will also be able to propose some enhancements to the adjoining museum buildings; this additional work (no more than £10m construction budget) being contingent on the post-competition concept design.

This competition is open to both national and international integrated design teams that include architects and structural, civil and services engineers. Competitors should demonstrate exceptional design talent and creative flair, along with sensitivity to the heritage context and expertise in sustainability.

The deadline for expressions of interest submissions is October 16, 2019.

Image: Courtesy of Malcolm Reading Consultants

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