15 November 2005
Leeds City Museum and Leeds Museum Discovery Centre
This £26m scheme for Leeds City Council comprises two widely differing projects – the refurbishment of the Grade II* listed Leeds Institute building in the heart of the city to form the Leeds City Museum and the construction of a purpose-built state of the art Discovery Centre for the storage of museum artefacts owned by Leeds City Council. This new building is to be located on the south bank of the River Aire near the Royal Armouries complex and the Tetleys Brewery.
Working with Engineers, Buro Happold, and Exhibition Designers Redman Design; the Austin-Smith:Lord designed refurbishment of the Leeds Institute Building is based upon a sensitive adaptation of the existing structure. The original building was built in 1868 but refurbished extensively in the 1930’s to accommodate the Civic Theatre. Since that time, other repairs and refurbishment works have occurred. The new design has ensured that all previous amendments to the building were looked at and their effect integrated into the new scheme.
The renovations to the Leeds Institute require the existing theatre and proscenium arch to be removed to restore the main hall to its former condition and the introduction of a new floor at second floor level to provide additional space for exhibitions. Overall, the museum will have 5000 sq metres of floor space on four levels. On the lower ground floor, there will be further gallery space as well as education, conference facilities and a restaurant.
The remaining gallery floors are to be retained and strengthened. Due to the nature of the existing levels, a new raised floor is to be introduced at first floor to the north of the Rotunda, and a new second floor level is to be introduced in what is currently a double height space from first floor to roof, to the south of the central Rotunda. New concrete floors supported on composite steel beams are also to be introduced to the north-east and south-east corners of the building, to accommodate plant and ancillary areas.
The Discovery Centre will comprise a two storey Administration Block linked to a double-height Storage Facility. The Storage Block has an external brick clad concrete wall to provide thermal mass to control the internal environment. This concrete wall also acts as a stiff box to stabilise this part of the structure.
The structure is essentially steel framed with pre-cast concrete floors. The roof is made up of proprietary metal decking and partially pre-cast concrete.
Currently both projects are on site the Discovery Centre is due for completion in 2007 and the Museum in 2008, the overall scheme will create a central focus for Leeds' network of museums and will function as the
Museum Service's gateway to the large range of sites, information and events the city has to offer.
ENDS
For further information please contact: Duncan Bainbridge on 020 7251 6161 or duncan.bainbridge@austinsmithlord.com
