Kelvingrove Museum and Art Gallery is one of Glasgow's most famous buildings and one of the most visited attractions in Glasgow. Glasgow City Council with Heritage Lottery Funding (HLF) had the goal to create modern facilities, services and displays whilst providing 35% more space and better ventilation and accessibility to all areas.  Key changes in the layout included contemporary new exhibition space, a conference and lecture theatre, education rooms, a restaurant, shops and the Campbell Hunter education wing.

The scheme was split into two parts – the base build, worth £20M and a fit-out worth £79M.  The building was reserviced with new electrics, heating and ventilation was a priority, as was repair work to the roof and the removal of accretions which had built up over the last 100 years. Complete replacement of the existing M&E plant and distribution systems in the exhibition areas and galleries, some of which were over 100 years old, was required.  A comprehensive security system was installed in the museum to ensure total security of all exhibits and all electric lighting had to be replaced with natural lighting throughout to reduce energy levels.  A network of power and data was also provided within galleries and exhibition areas to allow for future flexibility.

New M&E installations included:

• New climate control systems throughout.

• Supplementary heating for entrances and peripheral galleries.

• Air supply heated and humidified with further air-conditioning carried out by vertical wardrobe style close control air-conditioning units.

• “Isolation” exhibition area which can be separated from the rest of the building’s systems so that specific air-conditioned, heat, humidity and ventilation environments can be maintained for more delicate exhibits and art work exhibitions and artefacts (all to BS.5454).

• Innovative, low energy displacement system.

• Supplementary extract ventilation to roof fans.

• Digitally controlled building energy management system throughout the building which also logs alarm and logging in/out activities.

• Conservation monitoring system which logs temperature, humidity, UV & daylight levels in ten different locations around the building, each location can easily be altered as the sensor units are non-wired remotes.

Gallery

Gallery

Hulley & Kirkwood were a key part of a dynamic, creative and constructive design team whose open and collaborative approach to a complicated and sensitive project was a credit to all involved, and delivered both quality and value. The subsequent success of the project is a fitting reflection of the commitment and professionalism the team from H&K brought to the landmark project.