Designed to deliver a new North Wing to house high profile artworks, the scheme will construct an elegant two-storied concrete frame extension at the rear of the Grade II listed Victorian property. Accommodating a new visitor study centre, the new building will feature large expanses of glazing for natural daylight.
It will feature a glazed promenade gallery, which will link the new North Wing to the existing South Wing. Other additions includes a café area and Learning Studio, which will open out into a new inspirational art garden. A new main entrance will also be created to welcome visitors directly from Whitworth Park.
As part of the renovation, the exhibition space will be refurbished across the first floor with three large barrel ceiling exhibition galleries to increase the overall gallery capacity. When combined with the new extension, over 396 square metre of extra exhibition space will be created following the redevelopment, which will double the amount of artwork that is currently capable of being displayed at the gallery.
Sustainability and environmental elements of the refurbishment includes the strip out and upgradation of the gallery’s existing mechanical and electrical services and installation of highly efficient systems, including a ground source heat pump. The project targets BREEAM Excellent rating for the completed building.
The Whitworth Art Gallery houses internationally important collections of modern art, textiles, water colours, prints, drawings and sculpture.
