Cornwall Museum and Art Gallery, Truro

The winning team selected for the estimated £400,000–£460,000 (excluding VAT) contract will deliver RIBA Stages 2-to-4 for the latest phase of upgrades to the landmark River Street museum which displays items of Cornish history from prehistoric times to the present day.

The project focuses on revitalising the Grade II-listed historic museum in Truro, improving accessibility, visitor flow, and sustainability, and delivering a contemporary multi-arts community hub. A further appointment for RIBA Stages 5-to-7 will be subject to funding.

According to the brief: ‘Cornwall Museum & Art Gallery (formerly Royal Cornwall Museum) invites response to this Invitation to Tender (ITT) from suitably qualified suppliers (“Suppliers”) to complete Phase 4 of its major transformation programme and is looking to commission a Lead Design Consultant.

‘Initially this is to undertake RIBA Stages 2-4 as part of the National Lottery Heritage Fund (NLHF) Development Phase of Transforming Cornwall Museum and Art Gallery and to complete RIBA Stages 5-7 if the application is successful.’

The Royal Institution of Cornwall runs the Cornwall Museum and Art Gallery – formerly called the Royal Cornwall Museum – which was originally set up in 1919 within a former Truro Savings Bank premises. Along with the Courtney Library, the complex hosts a large collection of Cornish minerals, ceramics and fine art.

The latest procurement comes a year after London’s Studio Wignall & Moore was selected as the design and build team for a new £1 million gallery at the museum.

The initial commission will involve refining the outline masterplan, detailed design development, and preparing planning and listed building consent applications, as well as costed technical documentation for construction.

Future work, if confirmed, would see the winning team carry the project through to completion and deliver in-use evaluation as part of a three-year programme.

The project aims to secure the long-term future of Cornwall’s largest museum of cultural history, which houses more thanone million objects. The masterplan includes upgrades to public entrances, galleries, retail and café spaces, community and education areas, collections management, and back-of-house facilities.

Proposals will be expected to achieve sensitive integration with the museum’s listed architecture, deliver significant improvements to accessibility and environmental performance, and to enhance the visitor offer for a growing and diverse audience.

Eligible lead consultant teams must include conservation-accredited architects, exhibition and M&E specialists, energy advisors, structural, acoustic and fire consultants, and a qualified Principal Designer under CDM regulations.

Bids will be evaluated on the basis of 70 per cent quality and 30 per cent price. Insurance requirements are set at £5 million employer’s liability, £2 million professional indemnity and £10 million public liability cover.