Special Exhibitions Gallery, Science and Industry Museum Manchester Building, Carmody Groarke English Architecture
Special Exhibitions Gallery, Science and Industry Museum Manchester
1 May 2022
Special Exhibitions Gallery at Science and Industry Museum, Manchester, Lancashire, North West England, UK
6 projects have been awarded RIBA North West Awards.
Design: Carmody Groarke
Special Exhibitions Gallery, Science and Industry Museum Building
Jury Report
Delivered as part of a masterplan with an aim of de-carbonising the estate, the Special Exhibitions Gallery re-purposes a basement storage area and sets up future lower ground connections for public access across the museum campus. The Grade II Listed warehouse structure dates back to 1880?s and its industrial splendour has been re-awakened with simple and intelligent design.
photo © Gilbert McCarragher
A new fully-accessible entrance has been introduced to what was a dark undercroft area to announce the museum access as part of the future new route through the site. Also an entrance for moving displays into the building, this new foyer has been carefully planned to accommodate both gallery guests and goods. The foyer area also sits beyond the building line without ownership of the land above so a confident approach has been taken to unavoidable water ingress through the historic fabric.

photo © Gilbert McCarragher
Back-lit full height fibre-glass panelled walls transform the visitor experience and welcome area; cleve...