Image: British Museum Archaeological Research Collection (John McAslan + Partners)
The combined storage and research facility is expected to be official opened this week following the transfer of objects from Blythe House
The first phase of the British Museum’s Masterplan is expected to be marked by the official opening of the new British Museum Archaeological Research facility tomorrow, Friday 7 June 2024.
Also known as BM_ARC, the opening date will mark the anniversary of the Museum’s foundation through the British Museum Act.
Last year the museum began to move objects from its Blythe House storage to the 15,00 m2 facility. Based at Shinfield in Berkshire, near Reading, it is based opposite the University of Reading’s Thames Valley Science Park.
Designed by architects John McAslan + Partners, it is run in partnership with the University of Reading.
It is the first building specifically designed to allow study and comparison across ancient world
Collections, and is the first completely independent building created for the museum since Sir Robert Smirke’s neo-classical design was completed in Bloomsbury in 1852.
On the announcement of the facility, the said it will house items including nails from the Sutton Hoo ship burial, rare Peruvian fabrics and ancient fingerprints preserved on 5000-year-old antler picks.
The new space has been designed to act as both a place which serves as both museum storage and a facility for research and study by academics and members of the public, who will be able to visit by appointment.
The facility is part of the museum’s multi-year partnership with BP, which is providing £50m over 10 years to support its Masterplan.
Also part of the Masterplan is the redesign of over a third of the museum’s gallery space. The museum launched an international architectural competition for the redesign earlier this month.
