Merseyside Maritime Museum © Pete Carr

Under the redesign, the Merseyside Maritime Museum will be linked to the International Slavery Museum next door. Credit Pete Carr

NML relaunches architect hunt for £58m Liverpool museums revamp

Adjaye Associates had been lined up to lead the transformation of the International Slavery Museum and Maritime Museum in Liverpool but was dropped after multiple women accused founder Sir David Adjaye of sexual misconduct.

Adjaye’s lawyers have denied the allegations, news of which broke in July. In August, National Museums Liverpool published a statement saying that it had terminated Adjaye Associates’ contract.

“We would like to thank the AA team who have worked hard to bring the International Slavery Museum and Maritime Museum transformation project, to a developed design stage,” NML said in that statement.

“We remain committed to the project as we continue to build on the momentum already established with an accelerated tender procurement for new architects.”

That “accelerated tender procurement” process has now begun, with NML publishing its official tender request for a replacement architect.

This new architect will be tasked with designing two new entrances to the Maritn Luther King Jr Building and the Hartley Pavilion, as well as refurbishing both buildings and adding a link bridge between the two.

The project is currently in the middle of RIBA Stage 3, with the appointed architect expected to guide it through the remaining RIBA stages.

NML estimates that the total cost of the project is £58m. The architect contract is valued at between £800,000 and £1.1m, excluding VAT. The contract is for the end of December 2024 and could be extended to winter 2028. The deadline to submit a tender for the project is 6 October.

Ralph Appelbaum Associates, which was appointed at the same time as Adjaye Associates to the redesign of the museums, is still involved in the project. RAA is leading the exhibition design.

Adjaye Associates had also been slated as part of a consortium to work on NML’s Canning Dock revamp. Adjaye Associates subsequently departed from that scheme earlier this year. Architect Asif Khan and artist Theaster Gates are currently designing the project, which is set to include a ‘contemplation space’ that will  “play host to stories of the past, life of the present, and dreams of the future, with no chance of being washed away”, according to a consultation.

Your Comments

Read our comments policy

Who is paying for all of this?

By Anonymous

Will they be picking the new architects purely on merit? A level playing field would be nice, NML.

By Anonymous

More delays, albeit understandable in this case , but this project has been dragging on for an age will it ever happen, and surely this will increade the costs.

By Anonymous

This would ideally be an opportunity for a Maritime Museum in a major port city, in possession of a historic dry dock, to perhaps rethink the previous plan and look for historic ship(s) to put in it, rather than turning it into a contemplation zone to contemplate being in a dock where a ship might otherwise be….

By Shipbuilding

Why dont they allow the people of Liverpool to submit designs, designed by the people for the people. There are a lot of creative and artistic minds in liverpool. There would be no Architect fee’s and extra cash could go towards the redesign.

By Anonymous

Yes, a Maritime Museum would be a great idea and much more interesting and inclusive. Can’t see this having many visitors.

By Anonymous

Rather the project waited and we got a proper museum celebrating Liverpool’s awesome maritime history as well as the current role of the port rather than pandering to the latest trends in self flagellation.

By Anonymous

Would indeed be interesting to see the number of visitors over the coming years . Not many I would guess.

By Anonymous

Related Articles

Sign up to receive the Place Daily Briefing

Join more than 13,000 property professionals and receive your free daily round-up of built environment news direct to your inbox

Subscribe

Join more than 13,000 property professionals and sign up to receive your free daily round-up of built environment news direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you are agreeing to our Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.

"*" indicates required fields

Your Job Field*
Other regional Publications - select below