Feilden Fowles, Heneghan Peng and Carmody Groarke on five-strong shortlist for £16.5m York project
The National Railway Museum has unveiled the design proposals from the architects shortlisted to deliver a £16.5m central hall for its York base.
Stirling Prize-nominated practices Feilden Fowles, Heneghan Peng and 6a Architects – the latter working with Office Kersten Geers David Van Severen – won their way through a field of 76 entries to the final stage of the competition in November.
They are joined by Carmody Groarke and France’s Atelier d’Architecture Philippe Prost to be in the running to create a new 4,500sq m space bridging the gap between the National Railway Museum’s two main exhibition halls for the first time.
Designs by all shortlisted practices are being put on public show to feed into the judging of the proposals, which is due to take place next month.
The new central hall is expected to open in time for the museum’s 50th anniversary in 2025, and strengthen the NRM’s position as the cultural focus of the 45ha York Central regeneration project.
Museum director Judith McNicol said the new central hall would showcase the museum’s collection and future innovations from the rail industry in an inspirational, purpose-built gallery.
“I encourage people to visit and to share their feedback,” she said.
“Although the final designs are some way off, the winning team will go on to create the final building which will be the cultural focal point at the heart of York Central.”
The shortlisted teams were responding to a brief that included a need for central hall to be environmentally sustainable as well as sensitive to the railway heritage of surrounding buildings and the city of York.
The judging panel includes architect Michael Squire. The competition was organised by Malcolm Reading Consultants.
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