GRAHAM has broken ground on Central Hall and Railway Futures: The Porterbrook Gallery at the National Railway Museum, marking an exciting new chapter in its transformation.
GRAHAM arranged for the museum to welcome key funders and supporters to an exclusive event to celebrate the start of construction.
The project is centred around creating new spaces that will improve experiences for visitors and explore the future of rail. Designed for all and built sustainably, Central Hall will create a welcoming new gateway to the museum and is designed by Feilden Fowles Architects, a firm recognised for championing sustainable design. The striking circular design of the building, clad in recycled copper with high, glazed ceilings with timber radials, references historic locomotive roundhouses.
Julian Donnelly, Contracts Manager at GRAHAM, said:
“Breaking ground is a significant milestone for Central Hall and we are proud to continue our partnership with the National Railway Museum on such an important project.
“Our team is committed to delivering a high-quality, sustainable building that will serve generations of visitors and become a key part of the museum’s transformation.”
Craig Bentley, Director of the National Railway Museum said, “This celebration marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter for the National Railway Museum. Central Hall and Railway Futures: The Porterbrook Gallery will transform how people experience the museum. We are enormously grateful to the funders, partners and supporters who have helped bring us to this point. Together, we are laying the foundations for a museum that preserves the past, serves the present and inspires the future.”
Guests heard from Craig Bentley and Mary Grant, CEO of Porterbrook, about the significance of the transformation and the vital role supporters are playing in making it possible. Guests then received a first-hand look at the progress being made, donning hard hats and PPE before heading onto the construction site for an exclusive tour, gaining insight into the early stages of construction, including excavation works and the laying of foundations for the future Central Hall.
To capture the moment in the museum’s history, guests were also invited to sign copies of the gallery’s design plans. These will be placed in a time capsule, creating a snapshot of the project at the very beginning of its journey.
As part of the build, a brand new gallery, Railway Futures, will look back at the extraordinary history of railways while encouraging visitors to imagine what the future of rail could look like.
Mary Grant, CEO of Porterbrook, said, “Inspiring a new generation of talent to join this great industry is of the upmost importance. Young people are fascinated by trains, and this new gallery will keep that spark alive by showcasing the vast possibilities the future holds. The journey of rail innovation does not have a final destination, and that’s the story that Railway Futures will tell.”
A spokesperson for Friends of the National Railway Museum said: “To be included in such a prestigious gathering of guests was a real privilege. Over the next 18 months it will be great to watch the progress of the building work, but to be ‘in at the start’ will be something which will remain with me for a long time!”.
For the most up-to-date information on the development of Central Hall and other museum projects, visit the website at National Railway Museum.