Alistair Hardaker | Image: Paisley Museum exterior
Fit-out begins on Renfrewshire Council project, as new images reveal museum set to open later this year.
Construction of the £68.7m Paisley Museum redevelopment is now complete, with a fit-out period now underway.
The redevelopment, by Renfrewshire Council, had originally been set for completion in Spring 2025. A statement from the council last year described the project as “an extremely complex refurbishment”, adding contractors “have encountered a number of unforeseen issues”.
The now completed construction features a red glass entrance and panoramic extension fronts.
The main building and Coats Observatory, the oldest public observatory in Scotland, have seen external and internal repairs.
A new outdoor garden and public space has been created, which opens up previously hidden views of the observatory.
The fit-out period and object install programme is expected to be completed over the remainder of 2026 ahead of a planned public reopening.
The reopened museum will be operated by Renfrewshire’s leisure and cultural charity OneRen.
Councillor Lisa-Marie Hughes, Renfrewshire Council’s spokesperson for culture and Chair of OneRen, said: “As with many projects involving historic buildings and with this being the first major refurbishment in its 150-year history, there have been challenges, but I’m excited for us to now look forward now to the fit-out process as we create the environment that will allow us to tell the stories of Paisley’s history and its people.
“The Museum is the culmination of a decade of investment in Paisley’s cultural buildings, and in the town itself, which has changed perceptions of the area, given people new reasons to visit, and contributed to it being named Scotland’s Town of the Year. It’s an exciting time to live, work and be a part of Paisley.”
The renovated museum’s design was produced by international architects AL_A. The project’s fit-out period is being led by HUB Build.
The museum project has been funded by Renfrewshire Council, the National Lottery Heritage Fund, Historic Environment Scotland, and the Scottish Government’s Regeneration Capital Grant Fund, as well as fundraising from donors and benefactors.
