Discovery Museum, Newcastle

The multidisciplinary team selected for the estimated £400,000 design contract will carry out RIBA Stages 4-to-6 of a project to re-roof and externally repair the Grade II-listed complex which was built in 1899 and became a local museum in 1978

The project – planned to complete in 2026 – will restore and protect the city centre landmark which was originally constructed by the Co-operative Wholesale Society converted into the Discovery Museum in 1993 and now receives around 160,000 visitors annually.

According to the brief: ‘Newcastle City Council (NCC) is seeking to appoint a suitably qualified Lead Designer to undertake architectural design and cost management services from RIBA Work Stage 4-6, for the re-roofing and external fabric repairs to the East Block of Blandford House.

‘The successful tenderer will act as Lead Designer and lead consultant on the Discovery Museum MEND Project. Services will include design management of re-roofing and external fabric repairs from RIBA Stages 4-7 (completion on site).’

Newcastle is the eighth-most populous city in the UK and the largest settlement in the north-east of England. It is a major regional hub for education, government, commerce and entertainment, and receives around eight million visitors a year to its central zone.

The latest procurement comes four years after Newcastle City Council launched a search for a design team for a £30 million revamp of its main city centre shopping zone. FaulknerBrowns Architects revealed proposals to turn Newcastle’s Grade I-listed Grainger Market into a day and night venue in March.

The latest project will re-roof the East Block of Blandford House which hosts the Discovery Museum while also carrying out external masonry and window repairs. The museum and neighbouring Newcastle Archives will remain open during the overhaul.

Bids for the commission will be evaluated 60 per cent on quality and 40 per cent on price. Applicants must hold employer’s liability insurance of £10 million, public liability insurance of £10 million and professional indemnity insurance of £5 million.