Lead Architect for Natural History Museum Western Galleries Base Build Project

The Natural History Museum is seeking a Lead Architect to design and supervise the base build phase of the Western Galleries project, a major renovation ahead of the museum's 150th anniversary in 2031. The project encompasses four gallery spaces: the Swing Space (opening 2028), Botany Library and Old General Herbarium (2029), Dinosaur Gallery (2030), and Origins Gallery (2031). The Lead Architect will be responsible for developing architectural designs across RIBA stages 2-7, coordinating with multiple consultants including MEP, circulation, accessibility, and fire specialists, and ensuring continuity with the separate fit-out phase. Base build scope includes conservation of gallery spaces, structural works, new mechanical and electrical systems, creation of new plant rooms and vertical circulation cores with lifts and staircases, relocation of offices and facilities, and clearance of existing installations. The appointed firm must also provide heritage consultancy, structural engineering, sustainability, and Building Safety Act Principal Design services for both base build and fit-out projects. Prospective bidders must complete and sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) to access tender documents; those who signed an NDA during the Pre-Market Engagement stage need not sign again.