Mixed teams sought for museum

Consultancies shortlisted as lead designers for the Wellcome Wing at the Science Museum have been asked to establish mini-consortiums as part of their final bids.

Science Museum head of design Tim Molloy says the project demands wider skills than are to be found in any one agency, and wants the shortlisted groups to present ready-formed teams. He will not name design groups on the shortlist.

Working to plans developed by architect Richard MacCormac, the successful team will include architectural, interior, graphics and audio visual design expertise. The Wellcome Wing will look into the future of scientific areas such as bio-medicine, and will include a 3D Imax cinema.

The five-strong shortlist was drawn up from a longlist of 12 after a paid creative pitch (DW 20 June). A number of consultancies which have previously worked for the Science Museum, including Ben Kelly Design, are understood to have failed to transfer to shortlist stage. But there is a chance that such groups will work on the project as part of the larger groups required.

The winning shortlisted group will initially be appointed to develop the ground and first floor exhibition space in the new wing. Molloy confirms the winning consortium may be retained, to work on the upper two floors of exhibition space.

A second project, to develop the Making the Modern World exhibition, is out to tender, with an appointment expected by the end of July. “This is a defined project with defined consultancy requirements,” says Molloy. He describes the proposed exhibition as “object rich”. The five-strong shortlist for the exhibition includes Alsop & Strmer and Ron Arad Associates.

Architect Daniel Libeskind has been appointed to create the Imperial War Museum of the North, with Ove Arup and DEGW/Amalgam.