The Victoria & Albert (V&A) museum in London has started the tender process to select the main contractor for a £22m scheme to create a research centre and space for its collections
The V&A Collection & Research Centre will offer access to hundreds and thousands of objects not currently on public display. It is intended as a “creative sourcebook”, bringing study, learning, conservation, research and public programmes together in one place.
The centre is expected to become a transformational new model for how museum collections can be stored, cared for and explored.
The V&A Collection & Research Centre expects to invite a maximum of three bidders, though has said that it may go up to four.
The work will be procured on a two-stage design and build basis and carried out under an amended JCT Design and Build 2016 Contract.
The first stage of the works includes the structural works, the M&E plant and first-fix services, while the second stage works cover the architectural fit-out elements and second-fix M&E.
It is anticipated that the design of the building will be at RIBA Stage 3 when the invitation to tender is issued for the first stage works. The design for the second stage works will be developed to Stage 3+/4A before being issued for procurement. The client’s current design team will not be novated to the main contractor to complete the design.
The works include tasks such as the construction of two steel-framed structural mezzanine floors and framing to a new atrium opening in existing first floor; structural framing for a new glazed rooflight opening in the existing roof; new lift shafts and staircases and structural modifications to existing ones.
Among the other aspects of the V&A Collection & Research Centre are the provision of internal partitions, fit-out of all spaces and specialist fittings for the conservation, workshop, studio, research and front of house spaces.
The proposed construction period is from October 2019 to March 2021.
