by
Royal Armouries Museum Galleries
A transformative exhibition design commission to redevelop 4,740 m² of permanent galleries at the Royal Armouries Museum in Leeds.
The Royal Armouries Museum Galleries Project forms part of the national Armouries 700 transformation, celebrating 700 years of the institution’s history. The project seeks an exhibition design consultancy to lead the comprehensive redisplay of approximately 4,740 m² of permanent galleries, creating immersive, inclusive, and sustainable experiences that reimagine how arms and armour stories are told.
The project aims to make the collection more accessible, engage new audiences, and integrate participatory and inclusive practice. The design will unfold in phased delivery (RIBA 0–7), with the initial development phase (Phase 1) fully funded to establish the master design and fundraising framework. Subsequent phases are contingent on successful external fundraising but collectively form a £22.8 million redevelopment including exhibition fit-out, basebuild works, and museum-led costs.
Location
Sector
Civic
Intervention
Museum and exhibition redevelopment
Website
Tender Portal
Tender Stage
Pre-Qualification for Tender
Deadline
17 November 2025
Project Value/Scale
£22.8m
Consultant Team
Exhibition 3D Designer
2D Graphic Designer (exhibition, signage & wayfinding)
Specialist Lighting Designer
Audio-Visual Hardware and Software (Digital Media) Designers
Sound Designer
Structural Designer (for exhibition elements)
Acoustic Consultant
Fire & Life Safety Consultant
Project Manager
Quantity Surveyor
Principal Designer (CDM & Building Regulations)
Access Consultant (client-side collaboration)
Sustainability Consultant (client-side collaboration)
2D Graphic Designer (exhibition, signage & wayfinding)
Specialist Lighting Designer
Audio-Visual Hardware and Software (Digital Media) Designers
Sound Designer
Structural Designer (for exhibition elements)
Acoustic Consultant
Fire & Life Safety Consultant
Project Manager
Quantity Surveyor
Principal Designer (CDM & Building Regulations)
Access Consultant (client-side collaboration)
Sustainability Consultant (client-side collaboration)
Submission Criteria
Appendix A – Form of Tender
Appendix D – Certificate of non-collusion and non-canvassing
Appendix E – Statement of Proposed Amendments
Appendix F – Commercially Sensitive Information Schedule
Appendix G – Personal Data
Appendix H – Procurement Specific Questionnaire (PSQ)
Q1 Understanding of the vision & brief – 15 %
Q2 Design approach, methodology, programme & phasing plan – 15 %
Q3 Team composition & experience – 10 %
Q4 Stakeholder & participatory practice – 10 %
Q5 Social Value: Sustainability & Accessibility – 10 %
Pricing Schedule – 25 %
Interview Performance – 15 % (for shortlisted bidders)
Shortlisted bidders will present a creative and design response demonstrating understanding of the brief, approach to collaboration, and team communication.
No additional creative visuals are required for Stage 1, but the interview phase must include conceptual material (sketches, visuals, mood imagery) as part of presentation.