Mace appointed to deliver £126m Natural History Museum research hub
The Natural History Museum has appointed Mace as main contractor for its new collections, research and digitisation centre at Thames Valley Science Park in Shinfield, near Reading.
Work is expected to begin imminently on the £201m government-funded facility.
Construction News understands the construction contract is worth £126m to tier one contractor Mace.
The new facility will provide purpose-built storage for 28 million specimens, the museum announced in a statement this morning (28 May).
It forms part of the museum’s NHM Unlocked programme and is due for completion in 2027, with full operation expected by 2031.
Mace will lead on procurement and delivery, supported by CPC Project Services on project management and Arcadis on cost consultancy.
Architectural design on the project is led by Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios, with engineering input from Ramboll. The design team has been novated to Mace.
The project aims to meet net-zero targets in both construction and operation, using responsibly sourced materials to minimise environmental impact, the museum said.
The 25,000 square metre collections, research and digitisation centre will house a third of the museum’s collections. These include mammals, fossilised specimens, corals and other non-insect invertebrates.
It will also include cryogenic tissue storage, ancient DNA laboratories, digitisation suites and conservation facilities.
Keith Jennings, director of estates, projects and masterplanning at the Natural History Museum, said the project would “transform collections access” and boost research capability in climate science, biodiversity and planetary health.
The move from South Kensington in London will constitute the largest ever relocation of natural history specimens globally, the museum said.
It will also enable the reopening of two long-closed galleries and contribute to the NHM150 project, a wider £150m fundraising effort ahead of the Natural History Museum's 150th anniversary in 2031.
Source: Construction News UK
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