Bristol’s landmark Royal West of England Academy (RWA) building is to be transformed in a £3.8m project led by the city office of regional specialist building firm Beard.
The Grade II* listed RWA on Whiteladies Road was Bristol’s first public art gallery when it opened in 1858 but is now in urgent need of structural repairs and an upgrade of its historic public spaces. 
The Light and Inspiration project has been described as the most significant development to the building for more than a century and includes replacing the vast roof lanterns in the galleries to create better lighting, and significant access improvements by installing a new lift.
Significant enhancements are also planned to the facilities for visitors, including incorporating alfresco café seating and social and exhibition area into the forecourt, enlarging the current café area and improving the retail and reception areas – all of which will bring in vital revenue.
RWA director Alison Bevan said: “This is a truly historic moment for us. Not since the façade was remodelled in 1913 has such a major project been undertaken.
“We’ve listened to our visitors and to the community we serve and are confident that the changes we’re making will enable people from across Bristol and beyond to benefit from extraordinary encounters with great art, including those with the most severe physical and mental health challenges.
“We are delighted to have appointed Beard Construction, who have themselves been operating for well over a century.
“We’re really looking forward to working with this family company, and their extensive experience with important heritage buildings means that we know they’ll do a great job for us.”
The project has been supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund as well as many other trusts and foundations and donors.
The project also represents another important contract in the heritage sector for family-owned Beard. The 128-year-old Swindon-headquartered group, which opened its Bristol base in 2015, has extensive experience in the heritage sector.
Its high-profile contracts in Bristol have included demolishing and replacing the outdated toll booths at Clifton Suspension Bridge and building the SS Great Britain’s £7.2m Being Brunel museum and visitor experience in the city’s historic dockyard.
Beard Bristol director Mike Hedges said: “For Beard, this is a project which provides a fantastic opportunity to help ensure the future of one of Bristol’s landmark buildings.
“As a construction partner we will add value by drawing on our great expertise of both logistically challenging projects and sensitive alteration and conservation of historic buildings.
“The replacement of the rooflights over the existing galleries for example, will improve the internal environment. While works to improve the entrance, lower windows and provision of a new lift will ensure an accessible, social, family-friendly space with improved natural light.
“This is a project which is very much in line with Beard’s central ethos that buildings are spaces for living, working, playing, and also inspiration.”
The work is expected to be completed by next February.
