Construction starts at Paisley Museum

Associate Matt Wilkinson joins Renfrewshire Council for groundbreaking ceremony

July 20 2021

The transformation of Paisley Museum is officially underway, with construction starting on site last week.

Working with an international team including exhibition designers Opera Amsterdam, we have radically reimagined the museum and its campus, reshaping it into a cultural hub of discovery, skills development, creativity and innovation. The revamped museum is forecast to attract 125,000 visits a year, almost four times the current numbers, and create a £79m economic boost over 30 years.

Kier Construction will deliver the main works phase of the project, with completion scheduled for late 2022 ready for the reopening of the museum in 2023.

Matt said: “The new museum will have a profound impact on Paisley’s future and it’s testament to the commitment and hard work of the whole community that we’ve reached this point. We’re extremely excited to be starting construction and to see our ambitious proposals coming to life.”

Councillor Lisa-Marie Hughes, chair of Renfrewshire Leisure, said: “The beginning of work starting on site is a major step forward in our journey to transform Paisley Museum into a world-class destination, bringing in visitors from across Scotland, the UK and abroad.

“The project is part of a wider investment by the council in Paisley’s venues to transform the town centre and take the work already done to make the town a key cultural destination within Scotland to a new level.

“The project team have already worked with hundreds of local people and groups to capture their stories. And we will continue to work with neighbours and surrounding businesses to make sure they are involved throughout the project and are ready to benefit from the massive boost this will bring to the town.”