This morning at the Royal Academy of Arts, London, the scheme for the redevelopment of its historic buildings was presented at a press conference.
The redevelopment will link Burlington House and Burlington Gardens for the first time, opening up access to the schools, and creating new public areas that will include dedicated spaces for exhibitions and displays across the site for the historic collections, contemporary art projects and new work by Royal Academicians. The Royal Academy will also gain a double-height lecture theatre with over 260 seats and enhanced facilities for its education programme.
A contractor has been selected and the works are due to start in October 2015. The redevelopment will be completed in time for the Royal Academy’s 250th anniversary in 2018.
Image: David Chipperfield and Charles Saumarez Smith (RA Secretary and Chief Executive) with Royal Academicians looking at the proposals in the model.