Manchester Jewish Museum has appointed Citizens Design Bureau (CDB) as the architects for its major development project. The lead architect will be CDB founder, Katy Marks, who was a Project Architect for the Stirling Prize winning ‘Liverpool Everyman Theatre’ and was recently nominated as emerging Woman Architect of the Year 2015. Working alongside Katy will be architect Ursula McGeoch, who previously worked on the Jewish Museum London. CDB will be leading a design team consortium, comprising BuroHappold, an award winning Structural and Services engineering company, and Bristow Johnson, an experienced company of Chartered Quantity Surveyors. This newly appointed team will progress the museum’s development plans thanks to the support of the Heritage Lottery Fund who last year awarded the museum a development grant of £426,900. The project will result in a major museum extension with new galleries and new learning and event spaces. The museum’s Grade II* listed synagogue building will also be fully restored.
The museum has also appointed exhibition designers All Things Studio to design new galleries telling the story of Manchester’s Jewish community. Led by Matt Schwab, All Things specialise in creating compelling and distinctive visitor experiences and have designed permanent and temporary exhibition spaces at institutions such as the Science Museum and Museum of London. The team also includes interpretation consultant Catherine Morton, graphic designers Kellenberger–White, lighting designers DHA Designs and Digital designers Clay Interactive.
Museum CEO, Max Dunbar, commented: “We’re delighted to announce the appointment of our design team. We’ve selected a creative team of architects and designers with valuable experience working on major cultural projects, both nationally and internationally. We’re particularly excited by this combination of creativity and experience and are confident this team will help us realise our vision to create a celebratory, vibrant and inspirational museum, bringing people of all faiths, backgrounds and ages together.”
Katy Marks, Director of CDB, commented: “We’re really looking forward to working on such a fascinating project – engaging imaginatively with issues of immigration, innovation and respectful diversity. By creating a new building as well as renovating the existing Grade II* Listed synagogue, there is enormous scope for a really special destination on the Manchester cultural scene. Credit also to the clients for selecting the team based on our approach rather than asking for completed designs up front.”
Matt Schwab, Director of All Things Studio, commented: “We are thrilled to be working with the Manchester Jewish Museum and Citizens Design Bureau on this unique project. There is huge potential in the museum’s historic Synagogue and collections and we will work with the team and local communities to create a world-class contemporary museum for the people of Manchester and beyond”.
