Bristol's M Shed history museum opens

20 Jun 2011

Arup’s structural engineering team helped to transform a new museum for Bristol City – M Shed – which opened to visitors on Friday 17 June 2011.

The museum is housed in and takes its name from the M Shed – a dockside transit shed built in the 1950s, located on the Prince’s Wharf waterfront. The two storey, steel-framed cargo shed museum has been restored to create a 21st century museum telling the story of the history of the city.

Central to the design was maintaining and respecting the heritage and integrity of the building.

Arup worked jointly with architects LAB Architecture Studio from 2004 to design and maximise the reuse of the existing building, providing structural engineeringfire engineering and façade advice.

"We were delighted to get involved with this amazing project. It is a great living archive for residents and visitors of all ages to celebrate the history of Bristol, both past and present."

– Carolina Bartram, Arup associate director

The £27m development of M Shed has been funded by Bristol City Council with the support of the Heritage Lottery Fund, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and a range of individuals, companies and trusts.

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Design Yearbook 2011 cover

Contacts

Beth Hurran

T+44 (0) 20 7755 5403

Emedia@arup.com

  • M Shed lobby and staircase. Credit Richard Bryant/Arcaidi Images

    Arup worked with LAB Architecture Studio from 2004 on the project.

  • M Shed exterior with steam train in front. Credit Richard Bryant/Arcaidi Images

    The museum is housed in a 1950s dockside transit shed.