The Natural History Museum (NHM) in the UK has commenced the construction of its new collections, research, and digitisation centre, with Mace at the helm as the main contractor.

The project, anticipated to start imminently, will see Mace leading procurement and construction efforts, supported by CPC Project Services and Arcadis for project and cost management, respectively.

The facility, designed by Fielden Clegg Bradley Studios and engineered by Ramboll, will provide storage for approximately one-third of the museum's collection, equating to 28 million specimens.

It will also offer advanced digital, analytical, and genomic technologies for the scientific community.

Located in Shinfield at the Thames Valley Science Park, the centre will cover an area of 25,000m², and is expected to be completed in 2027 and fully operational by 2031.

This initiative is part of the NHM Unlocked Programme, which has received a significant £201m ($270.7m) investment from the UK government.

The new centre will accommodate the museum's collections of mammals, noninsect invertebrates, molecular collections, and micropalaeontology.

The relocation of these specimens to Shinfield is claimed to represent the largest move of natural history specimens globally.

Sustainability is stated to be a cornerstone of the museum's ethos. The construction at Thames Valley Science Park will prioritise minimal environmental impact, utilising responsibly sourced materials and services, with the goal of achieving a net-zero carbon footprint for both construction and operations.

Mace was also recently appointed by J.P. Morgan Asset Management for a building reuse project at 65 Gresham Street in the City of London, UK.