National Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh
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National Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh
Andrew Lee (website) Download Original
Major refurbishment and reworking of the National Museum of Scotland including the addition of a street level entrance
Located near the University of Edinburgh the museum has two new entrances positioned symmetrically either side of the original entrance that meet visitors at street level - formally the basement level.
The newly repositioned shop, bistro and information point combine in a stone vaulted entrance space mirroring the atrium plan above.
Working alongside exhibition designers Ralph Appelbaum Associates, the architect has incorporated new circulation routes inside to encourage visitors to discover more of the museum’s collections.
The north-south axis of the museum has been opened up to connect the original entrance with the secondary entrance, displaying the original arches by completely removing the 1930s rear staircase.
Two new staircases emerge from under the cast iron balcony on the south side of the building passing into the newly paved atrium.
Data
- Begun: Sep 2009
- Completed: Apr 2011
- Floor area: 20,480m2
- Sector: Arts and culture
- Total cost: £37.8M
- Address: Chambers Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1JF, United Kingdom
Professional Team 
- Architect: Gareth Hoskins Architects
- Project architect: Gareth Hoskins
- Client: National Museum of Scotland
- Structural engineer: David Narro Associates
- M&E consultant: Max Fordham
- Quantity surveyor: Gardiner & Theobald
- Exhibition designer: Ralph Appelbaum Associates
- Fire engineer: Buro Happold
- Lighting Designer: DHA Design Services
- Main contractor: Balfour Beatty
- CDM coordinator: Turner & Townsend Management Solutions
- Approved building inspector : Cairn Property Consultants
