V&A East - Here East

The Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A) aimed to revolutionise public access to its extensive collections by relocating over 250,000 objects, 350,000 books, and 1,000 archives from traditional storage into a new, publicly accessible facility. The challenge was to repurpose part of the former Olympic Media Centre at Here East in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park into a dynamic Collection and Research Centre. This transformation needed to balance the preservation requirements of delicate artefacts with the creation of engaging spaces for visitors, all within a building not originally designed for museum use.

G&T provided Cost Management services for the development of the V&A East Storehouse. Collaborating with architects Diller Scofidio + Renfro and executive architects Austin-Smith:Lord, we oversaw the conversion of the industrial space into a state-of-the-art facility. The design includes a central public collection hall, conservation labs, and viewing galleries, allowing visitors to observe curators at work and explore the processes behind collection care and research. Our expertise ensured that the project met both the technical demands of artefact preservation and the V&A's vision for public engagement.

The V&A East Storehouse now offers an unprecedented "access all areas" experience, bringing the museum's hidden treasures into public view. This innovative approach redefines the traditional museum model, fostering transparency and deeper visitor connection with the collections. G&T's role was instrumental in delivering a facility that not only safeguards the V&A's vast holdings but also transforms them into an interactive resource for education and inspiration, contributing to the cultural regeneration of East London.