ISG is underway with a £12 million project to extend and refurbish the University of Manchester’s Whitworth Art Gallery.
The scheme will transform the 120 year old gallery, which houses internationally important collections of modern art, textiles, watercolours, prints, drawings and sculpture, by doubling the size of the public display space and creating new learning resources.
The contractor will construct an elegant two-storey concrete frame extension at the rear of the Grade II listed Victorian property, delivering a new North Wing to house high profile artworks. This contemporary addition features large expanses of glazing to harness natural daylight and afford outstanding views across Whitworth Park, as well as incorporating a new visitor study centre.
A glazed promenade gallery will link the new North Wing to the existing South Wing and includes a café area and Learning Studio, which will open out into a new inspirational art garden. ISG will also create a new main entrance to welcome visitors directly from Whitworth Park.
Sustainability and environmental performance are key priorities for the University of Manchester and as part of the comprehensive refurbishment, ISG will strip out and upgrade the gallery’s existing mechanical and electrical services and install highly efficient systems, including a ground source heat pump, to target a BREEAM Excellent rating for the completed building.
Exhibition space will be refurbished across the first floor and three large barrel ceiling exhibition galleries will also increase overall gallery capacity. When combined with the new extension, over 396 sq. m of extra exhibition space will be created following the redevelopment, doubling the amount of artwork that is currently capable of being displayed at the gallery.
ISG’s Jim Parker, managing director - North West, commented: “The Whitworth Art Gallery has always been at the forefront of innovation as England’s very first gallery in a park concept, and this latest stage in its development will create a high specification 21st century context for viewing the institution’s extensive collections.
"Enabling more of the gallery’s art treasures to be placed on display, the project not only addresses the growing demand from increasing visitor numbers but also further enhances Whitworth Art Gallery’s educational credentials and ability to inspire future generations of artists.”
