Sainsbury Wing
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Sainsbury wing in the context of the existing gallery
Martin Charles Download Original
Extension to the National Gallery comprising of galleries, offices, shop, restaurant and a lecture theatre
The Sainsbury Wing connects to the original National Gallery extending the facilities to include flexible galleries, conference rooms, a restaurant, a 350-seat lecture theatre, museum shop, and an interactive information centre.
Situated to one side of the National Gallery in Trafalgar Square the external walls and structure of the building are concrete with the upper galleries and walls framed in steel. The Trafalgar Square facade is clad in Portland stone and features classical motifs that shed as you travel to the rear of the building. The rear elevations consist of a mixture of brick cladding and portland stone.
Lighting and environmental requirements are key features within the design. All the galleries are artificially lit with daylight being filtered to protect the paintings and artwork. Environmental controls provide a constant environment and monitor any fluctuations that may affect the art.
Data
- Begun: 1988
- Completed: 1991
- Floor area: 36,500m2
- Sector: Arts and culture
- Total cost: £30.5M
- Address: The National Gallery, Trafalgar Square, Westminster, London, WC2N 5DN, United Kingdom
Professional Team 
- Architect: Venturi, Scott Brown and Associates, Sheppard Robson
- Project architects: David Vaughan, John Chase, John Hunter
- Client: Trustees of the National Gallery
- Project manager: John Hunter and Don Bluitt
- Structural engineer: Arup
- Services engineer: Arup
- Construction manager: AELTC
- Acoustic consultant: Arup Acoustics
- Lighting consultant: Jules Fisher and Paul Marantz
Suppliers
- Rooflights: Grill and Grossman
- Brickwork and Blockwork: Irving Whitlock
- Stonework: Easton Masontry Co (Portland)
- Stone Carver: Martine Cook
- Environmental Control System: Satchwell Control Systems
- Internal Partitions and Plasterwork: Jonathon James