The National Railway Museum in York has signed a contract with Graham Construction Ltd to begin main construction work on building Central Hall, a landmark new museum building that will transform visitor experience.
Central Hall, a bespoke building designed by award-winning architects Feilden Fowles, will unify the National Railway Museum’s buildings as a central entrance space to the museum, providing level access for the first time as well as a new gallery space, toilets, café and shop. It forms part of the wider York Central partnership which positions the National Railway Museum as the cultural heart within one of the UK’s largest urban regeneration projects.
This official contract-signing follows the Prime Minister’s announcement of an additional £3 million of funding to help unlock progress on the project following complexities around the ‘stopping-up’ of Leeman Road, which divided the museum.
Graham, which was appointed to deliver pre-construction services for Central Hall, can now begin main construction works for the building which will complete over the next two years.
Craig Bentley, director of the National Railway Museum, said: “Central Hall is more than a new building – it is a bold, future-facing statement that embodies the Railway Museum’s commitment to being ‘Open for All’ and sets a new sustainability benchmark for the site. I cannot wait to see this landmark new space emerge from the ground as we begin our next chapter as the world’s gateway to the past, present and future of railways.”
Designed to tell the story of rail’s future as well as its past, Central Hall will introduce dynamic new interpretive spaces such as Railway Futures: The Porterbrook Gallery, spotlighting how emerging technologies are shaping the next era of rail.
Edel Millar, masterplan project director, said: “Central Hall represents a transformational moment for the National Railway Museum. It will create a more welcoming, accessible and intuitive experience for visitors, bringing together the museum’s historic buildings through a seamless journey and providing greatly improved facilities for everyone who visits.
The design draws inspiration from the museum’s rich railway heritage while embracing modern, sustainable principles. It demonstrates how thoughtful architecture can respect the past, meet the needs of today’s visitors and support our ambitions for a more environmentally responsible future.”
Julian Donnelly, contracts manager at Graham, said: “Reaching the main construction phase 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.
“This landmark development will create a welcoming and accessible gateway for visitors while celebrating the rich heritage and future innovation of Britain’s railways. 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.”
Central Hall 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.
Central Hall demonstrates how seamlessly visitor experiences and environmental responsibility can work together. From the outset, the building has been designed to work with its environment, using a highly efficient building envelope, natural ventilation and carefully considered daylighting to create comfortable, welcoming spaces while reducing energy demand.
This approach is particularly crucial within the new Futures Gallery, where the balance of optimal conditions for both visitors and collections comes into play. By creating a fabric- first approach and harnessing natural daylight and ventilation, the building is able to provide comfortable conditions for visitors and a stable environment for collections while reducing reliance on more energy-intensive systems to control the internal environment.
Central Hall and Railway Futures: The Porterbrook Gallery are being made possible thanks to a community of funders, including Porterbrook (Title Sponsor) and Mott MacDonald (Major Sponsor).
Image credit: Trustees of the Science Museum Group
