British Museum World Conservation & Exhibitions Centre
London, England · 2011-2014 · Not readily available
The judgement call
Account-gated at launchDiscreet integration: The design aimed for minimal intervention in the fabric of the existing museum, with one pavilion entirely underground. - State-of-the-art facilities: Provides advanced laboratories and studios for conservation and scientific research, along with a large exhibition gallery. - Precision environmental control: Advanced systems were implemented to ensure stable conditions for preserving artifacts.
Key engineering challenges
Building a new, large-scale facility within the confines of an existing, historically significant museum. - Designing and constructing a subterranean pavilion and multiple levels of underground storage. - Maintaining precise environmental controls (temperature and humidity) for conservation and exhibition spaces. - Minimizing disruption to the operational museum and its 6.8 million annual visitors during construction.
Project facts
- Client / owner
- British Museum
- Lead contractor
- Mace
- Lead designers
- Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners (RSHP), Arup (engineering)
- Project type
- new build
- Scale
- Nine-storey building, five pavilions (one entirely underground), three levels of underground storage
- Disciplines
- Architecture; Structural Engineering; Civil Engineering; Building Services Engineering; Conservation Engineering
- Standards & frameworks
- UK Building Regulations (implied)
Sources: https://www.britishmuseum.org/support-us/supporter-case-studies/world-conservation-and-exhibitions-centre; https://rshp.com/projects/culture-and-leisure/british-museum-wcec/; https://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/British_Museum_World_Conservation_and_Exhibitions_Centre; https://lpgroup.co.uk/case-studies/british-museum-world-conservation-and-exhibition-centre-wcec/