Tender: Lead Architect for Base Build Refurbishment of Natural History Museum Western Galleries (South Kensington)

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The Natural History Museum is seeking a Lead Architect to develop and deliver the base build design for the Western Galleries (Swing Space, Botany Library, Old General Herbarium, Dinosaur Gallery and Origins Gallery) across RIBA stages 2–7; the base build is the subject of this tender while fit-out will be tendered separately. The appointment includes leading and coordinating multidisciplinary base build consultants (such as MEP, circulation, accessibility and fire consultants), supervising works and coordinating fit-out consultants to ensure project continuity, and providing heritage consultancy, structural engineer, sustainability and BSA Principal Design services for base build and fit-out projects. The base build scope includes conservation of gallery spaces, making good of the building fabric, new ventilation and heating/cooling systems and associated Building Works in Connection (BWIC), mechanical, electrical and public health systems, creation of new plant rooms, required structural works and related tasks such as clearance, dismantling and removal of the Dinosaur Gallery walkway, decant and recant of Botany Library contents, temporary relocation of the Dino Shop, decant and relocation of offices to enable new circulation cores, relocation and enlargement of the ground-floor café, conservation of existing fixtures and finishes in the Old General Herbarium and Botany Library, removal of the existing Dino Shop and dog-leg corridor in the Swing Space, creation of two new vertical circulation cores (lifts and staircase), new toilets and ancillary spaces, creation of a first-floor café and fit out of a new Dino Shop and two cafés. Works are phased: Swing Space base build starts Autumn 2027 for a 2028 opening, Botany Library and Old General Herbarium are due in 2029, Dinosaur Gallery in 2030 and Origins Gallery in 2031. Tenderers must complete the NDA available in the SQ stage document library (signed by an appropriate company representative and returned to the Museum for countersignature) to be added to the Tenderbox; bidders who signed an NDA during Pre‑Market Engagement will be added automatically.