FDS Associates - Case Study: Glasgow's Best Loved - Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum

From July 2003, Kelvingrove has been undergoing a £27.9 million refurbishment to restore its magnificent Victorian interior and create an environment in which the collections can be displayed and enjoyed by future generations of Glaswegians and visitors to the city.

One of the finest civic collections in Europe is housed within this Glasgow landmark. Here you can explore collections that include everything from fine and decorative arts to archaeology and the natural world. The number of individual items in the natural history department alone is vast. You can admire Sir Roger the Elephant or wonder at 300-million-year-old fossils of marine life from the Glasgow area.

The collection of arms and armour is one of the finest in the world, and in this country is equalled only by the Royal Armouries and by the Wallace Collection in London. Among its many treasures is the earliest near-complete field armour in the world (the famous 'Avant' armour, made in Milan c1440). Also in the collection is the impressive and unique armour for man and horse made for William Herbert, 1st Earl of Pembroke, c1550.

The distinctive building that houses the collections is located in the beautiful surroundings of Kelvingrove Park in Glasgow’s West End. It was opened in its present form in 1902 and remains the greatest achievement in the UK of the Victorian Municipal Museum Movement.

The re-designed Kelvingrove will create a more accessible and visitor friendly attraction, with better and larger shops, cafeteria and toilet facilities. There will be more objects on display than ever before within the 22 major galleries and a wide range of educational and learning facilities for all age groups.

The intention is to create a 21st Century Museum in Glasgow’s favourite Edwardian building and build an exciting future on a proud past.

WIRING
While housing some of the finest works from antiquity, Kelvingrove also displays original wiring going back to the earliest days of electricity.

“The building was becoming increasingly unsuitable to cater for the needs of our visitors,” explains Anthony McReavy, Project Co-ordinator for Glasgow City Council.

“This is the most visited museum outside of London and catering is critical in determining the quality of the visit, from the state of the toilets to the value of a cup of tea. Approximately half of our visitors are repeat – this is a community museum on a national scale.”

FCSI consultant Robert Croft of FDS Associates was called in to detail the design brief which included a cafeteria, a fine dining restaurant in the evenings and a 500-seat banqueting hall and kitchen: “This is the premier facility for Glasgow City Council and a major social space for the city, as well as a key provider of income for the Museum,” says McReavy

“We identified a new area for the cafeteria – but it was not big enough to cope with the numbers at peak times. Robert Croft worked with the architects Building Design Partnership and the caterers Encore Catering to produce a proposal for an external pavilion to provide the extra space.

“We were looking for a mixed use of space and Robert gave us various options.”

To increase the quality of the visit, the role of the catering operation is quite crucial. We will now be able to look at running a cash cafeteria plus a coffee shop during weekdays with a fine dining restaurant in the evenings - plus a 500-seat banqueting hall and kitchen.

“Because it was a Victorian building, a lot of our food had to be prepared off site. We have removed all stores and offices from the building to generate extra space – for the entrance, cafeteria and in particular, the main onsite kitchen which allows us to substantially improve our offer.”

Key features of the refurbishment

Conservation of the building and collections
· Remove non-original features of the building
· Repair and restore the original features
· Upgrade electrical, heating and IT services
· Re-house stored collections in purpose built store - the Open Museum

Improve physical and intellectual access
· Create new entrance at ground floor level
· Design and build a new on-site Catering facility for all requirements
· Open basement for displays and visitor facilities
· Increase display space by 35%
· Increase number of objects on display by 50%, showing
favourites and many more from store
· Improve display and interpretation of collections
· Improve signage within the building

Click to see Plan Small 45 KB Large 177 KB		Case Study: Glasgow's Best Loved - Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum The most visited Museum in the UK outside London with more than a million visitors annually – and it is also Glasgow's most loved building, according to a local poll. From July 2003, Kelvingrove has been undergoing a £27.9 million refurbishment to restore its magnificent Victorian interior and create an environment in which the collections can be displayed and enjoyed by future generations of Glaswegians and visitors to the city. One of the finest civic collections in Europe is housed within this Glasgow landmark. Here you can explore collections that include everything from fine and decorative arts to archaeology and the natural world. The number of individual items in the natural history department alone is vast. You can admire Sir Roger the Elephant or wonder at 300-million-year-old fossils of marine life from the Glasgow area. The collection of arms and armour is one of the finest in the world, and in this country is equalled only by the Royal Armouries and by the Wallace Collection in London. Among its many treasures is the earliest near-complete field armour in the world (the famous 'Avant' armour, made in Milan c1440). Also in the collection is the impressive and unique armour for man and horse made for William Herbert, 1st Earl of Pembroke, c1550. The distinctive building that houses the collections is located in the beautiful surroundings of Kelvingrove Park in Glasgow’s West End. It was opened in its present form in 1902 and remains the greatest achievement in the UK of the Victorian Municipal Museum Movement. The re-designed Kelvingrove will create a more accessible and visitor friendly attraction, with better and larger shops, cafeteria and toilet facilities. There will be more objects on display than ever before within the 22 major galleries and a wide range of educational and learning facilities for all age groups. The intention is to create a 21st Century Museum in Glasgow’s favourite Edwardian building and build an exciting future on a proud past. WIRING While housing some of the finest works from antiquity, Kelvingrove also displays original wiring going back to the earliest days of electricity. “The building was becoming increasingly unsuitable to cater for the needs of our visitors,” explains Anthony McReavy, Project Co-ordinator for Glasgow City Council. “This is the most visited museum outside of London and catering is critical in determining the quality of the visit, from the state of the toilets to the value of a cup of tea. Approximately half of our visitors are repeat – this is a community museum on a national scale.” FCSI consultant Robert Croft of FDS Associates was called in to detail the design brief which included a cafeteria, a fine dining restaurant in the evenings and a 500-seat banqueting hall and kitchen: “This is the premier facility for Glasgow City Council and a major social space for the city, as well as a key provider of income for the Museum,” says McReavy “We identified a new area for the cafeteria – but it was not big enough to cope with the numbers at peak times. Robert Croft worked with the architects Building Design Partnership and the caterers Encore Catering to produce a proposal for an external pavilion to provide the extra space. “We were looking for a mixed use of space and Robert gave us various options.” To increase the quality of the visit, the role of the catering operation is quite crucial. We will now be able to look at running a cash cafeteria plus a coffee shop during weekdays with a fine dining restaurant in the evenings - plus a 500-seat banqueting hall and kitchen. “Because it was a Victorian building, a lot of our food had to be prepared off site. We have removed all stores and offices from the building to generate extra space – for the entrance, cafeteria and in particular, the main onsite kitchen which allows us to substantially improve our offer.” Key features of the refurbishment Conservation of the building and collections · Remove non-original features of the building · Repair and restore the original features · Upgrade electrical, heating and IT services · Re-house stored collections in purpose built store - the Open Museum Improve physical and intellectual access · Create new entrance at ground floor level · Design and build a new on-site Catering facility for all requirements · Open basement for displays and visitor facilities · Increase display space by 35% · Increase number of objects on display by 50%, showing favourites and many more from store · Improve display and interpretation of collections · Improve signage within the building
FDS Associates Limited - England and International Foodservice Consultants - Professional Consultancy - Industrial Kitchen Design - Institutional Systems

FDS Associates Limited - Outlook House, Rugby Road, Swinford, Leicestershire, LE17 6BW United Kingdom Tel: +44 (0)1788 860525 Fax: +44 (0)1788 860130 www.fdsassociates.com

Case Study: Glasgow's Best Loved - Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum

The most visited Museum in the UK outside London with more than a million visitors annually – and it is also Glasgow's most loved building, according to a local poll.

Key features of the refurbishment