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To celebrate 200 years since our foundation in 1824, we held a programme of inspirational exhibitions and outreach around the country and around the world, under the banner NG200. This included the completion of an initial phase of works to our Trafalgar Square buildings in order to improve the ‘welcome’ we provide to our millions of visitors we receive each year.

A new welcome for a new chapter in our history

The brief for the project included sensitive interventions to the Grade I listed Sainsbury Wing to reconfigure the ground floor entrance and upgrade the visitor amenities, creating new spaces that will provide a welcome experience befitting a world-class institution and that meets the expectations of visitors now and in the future.

Alongside this there was also the opening of a new Supporters’ House with dedicated spaces for Supporters and Members to meet, relax and get closer to the collection. We also transformed the Roden Centre for Creative Learning, allowing us to be far more ambitious with our educational offer and become the nation’s art classroom.

Still to come, is a new Research Centre, likely housed in the historic Wilkins Building, will support our vision of becoming a world leader in research into historic painting, and communicate our work as a global thought leader by creating a powerful resource for studies into art history, digital humanities, conservation, and heritage science.

Image: Detail from a visualisation of the view from Trafalgar Square approaching the Sainsbury Wing, with new transparent glass, reconfigured gates, and new seating. Image: Selldorf Architects
Image: Detail from a visualisation of the Sainsbury Wing, looking east from new double-height space along Whitcomb Street. Image: Selldorf Architects
Image: Detail from a visualisation of the Sainsbury Wing ground floor, looking northeast towards the grand staircase. Image: Selldorf Architects
Image: Detail from a sectional perspective, looking north through the Sainsbury Wing, Jubilee Walk and Wilkins Building. Image: Selldorf Architects
Image: Detail from a visualisation of the first floor of the Learning Centre © Lawson Ward Studio

Reimagining our connection to Trafalgar Square

We reimagined the public realm immediately outside the Sainsbury Wing and along the northern edge of Trafalgar Square to improve the presence of the building in its context and create a more attractive and enjoyable setting for visitors and the public.

Underpinning the brief was the desire to create healthy, sustainable, and accessible spaces and an environment that is open and inclusive where visitors can relax as they plan their visit to one of the world’s finest art collections.

Following a period of unprecedented challenges due to Covid-19, we wanted to build on our strength, inventiveness and relevance to play a vital role in the nation’s recovery story.

Exciting new spaces

The historic Wilkins Building now includes a new Supporters House with dedicated spaces for our Supporters and Members, as well as a new Research Centre that's still to come for everyone interested in studying art, from young people to international academics.

A reimagined Learning Centre 

We also transformed the Roden Centre for Creative Learning, allowing us to be far more ambitious with our educational offer and become the nation’s art classroom.

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The architect-led design team 

A team led by Selldorf Architects was selected to work on a suite of capital projects to mark our bicentenary, with an initial phase  completed in 2025. Selldorf Architects’ team also includes Purcell, Vogt Landscape, Arup, AEA Consulting, Pentagram, Kaizen and Kendrick Hobbs.

The selection process was run under the Competitive Procedure with Negotiation, in accordance with UK procurement regulations, by Malcolm Reading Consultant.