Tate Gallery of British Art

The Centenary Development of the north west quadrant at the Tate has afforded a new home for British Art from Tudor times to the present day. It provides space for major artists, more contemporary art and a dynamic programme of thematic displays and temporary exhibitions.

Part funded by a £18.75 million grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund, the Tate Gallery of British Art houses:

• 4 new and 5 refurbished galleries giving 35% more display space for the permanent collection of British art
• 6 new temporary exhibition galleries
• Independent access for disabled visitors
• A new entrance on Atterbury street to reduce crowding
• Improvement of visitor facilities
• Provision of on-line access to images/information on British works in the Collection

SVM has a long standing relationship with the Tate Gallery having worked for this client for over 17 years. SVM was appointed to undertake all aspects of M&E engineering design and to provide technical support and design interpretation to the construction manager.

Challenges for the SVM team included careful environmental control to allow works on paper to be shown alongside artefacts and sculpture. Special solar controlled louvers limit the entry of daylight without losing its essential quality of variability.

Lighting has been designed to use high efficiency compact fluorescent lamps for minimum energy consumption and SVM is also responsible for the floodlighting outside the Tate Gallery. Other systems designed by SVM include fire alarms, security and lifts.