The Royal Armouries Museum in Leeds, England, is actively recruiting a lead designer for a comprehensive $15.6 million renovation of its gallery spaces. This ambitious transformation project, titled "Armed with Hope - Understanding," will completely overhaul the museum's permanent exhibitions across five floors, with applications due by November 17, 2025.
The selected lead design consultant will manage an estimated $3.1 million contract (excluding VAT) to assemble a multidisciplinary exhibition design team. The project encompasses approximately 50,600 square feet of permanent exhibition space, including the existing War, Peace, Asian, African, and Self-Defence galleries. These spaces will be transformed into immersive, interactive, and thought-provoking visitor experiences designed for the 21st century.
Key objectives for the renovation include creating flexible exhibition spaces capable of hosting immersive theater performances, cutting-edge digital experiences, and hands-on interactive displays. The winning team, responsible for RIBA Stages 2 through 7, must prioritize sustainability, accessibility, and participatory practices that actively involve stakeholders and diverse audiences throughout the design process.
According to the project brief, the Royal Armouries Museum describes this initiative as "a bold and ambitious transformation—one that will revolutionize how visitors engage with history, technology, and the human experience." The museum emphasized that this project represents "more than an exhibition redesign—it's a chance to reimagine how we tell the story of using, designing and making arms and armour and the impacts they've had."
The newly reimagined galleries will be dynamic, inclusive, and innovative, bringing the collection to life through performance, storytelling, digital experiences, and hands-on interaction. Museum officials stated their goal is to "challenge assumptions, spark curiosity, and engage audiences in ways never seen before in an arms and armour museum."
Established in 1996, the Royal Armouries Museum houses England's National Collection of Arms and Armour. The museum's headquarters, designed by architect Derek Walker, is strategically located on the south bank of the River Aire in central Leeds. This latest procurement comes nearly 20 years after AOC won an RIBA competition to design a new street area and entrance for the Royal Armouries Museum.
The renovation project marks two significant milestones: the museum's 30th anniversary in Leeds and the 700th anniversary of the national collection. The redesign will reimagine the galleries around contemporary perspectives, human stories, and co-created experiences that reflect modern museological practices.
Bids for the commission will be evaluated based on 75 percent quality and 25 percent price. Applicants must demonstrate comprehensive insurance coverage, including employer's liability insurance of $6.25 million, public liability insurance of $6.25 million, and professional indemnity insurance of $2.5 million. Additionally, tenderers must submit detailed phase-by-phase fee proposals and demonstrate flexible, scalable solutions that are responsive to funding pathways and operational requirements.
This major renovation represents a significant investment in cultural infrastructure and positions the Royal Armouries Museum as a leading example of how traditional museums can adapt and evolve to engage contemporary audiences while preserving and celebrating historical collections.
