Sunderland Museum £13.6m transformation moves towards construction
Bellrock Consulting is project managing the scheme on behalf of Sunderland City Council, having been appointed in 2023 to support the project through its design development and funding application.
The next stage will see Bellrock manage the procurement and formal appointment of the main contractor through a Pre-Construction Services Agreement.
The redevelopment has been funded through The National Lottery Heritage Fund, alongside contributions from Sunderland City Council, Arts Council England, the Museum, Estate and Development Fund (MEND) and The Wolfson Foundation.
The professional team includes Purcell Architecture; TGA Consultants for mechanical, electrical and civil engineering; The Morton Partnership for structural engineering; Arup for fire and acoustic engineering; Southern Green as landscape architect; David Burdus as access consultant; and Mather & Co for museum, exhibition and interpretation design.
The museum is expected to reopen to the public in December 2028.
The grade two-listed building comprises three distinct construction phases and methodologies, alongside the bespoke Winter Gardens and its glass dome.
The refurbishment will involve work to the building’s fabric as well as the introduction of modern elements to improve the visitor experience.
The project team will also need to coordinate the works around more than 108,000 museum artefacts and protect the Winter Gardens’ living botanical collection.
Bellrock associate director and lead project manager Leo Heath said the project’s scale, listed status and central location presented logistical and engineering challenges.
He said the building’s historic fabric and the need to safeguard the museum’s collections and Winter Gardens would require close coordination throughout the works: “Managing a project of this scale, with such regional significance, presents unique logistical and engineering challenges.
“We are working within a grade two-listed building which features three distinct construction phases and methodologies alongside the bespoke Winter Gardens. With the last major intervention dating back to the early 2000s, much of the refurbishment will involve the building’s fabric as well as incorporating modern designs to further improve Sunderland Museum’s offering to its visitors.
“Safely preparing to work around and protect a delicate collection of over 108,000 museum artefacts, while safeguarding the Winter Gardens’ living botanical collection and striking glass dome requires meticulous coordination. The projects central location within Sunderland adds operational complexity, but our team is fully mobilised to guide this precious cultural asset safely through its next chapter.”
Cllr Ciera Hudspith, cabinet member for culture, tourism and heritage at Sunderland City Council said: “Sunderland Museum & Winter Gardens has been a cherished cornerstone of our community for generations.
“While we begin preparing the collections for their temporary hibernation, having to hand Bellrock’s expert project management support and cost consultants ensures our heritage is protected and our vision is realised for future generations.”
