ST ALBANS MUSEUM AND ART GALLERY | St Albans, UK | 2018 

Architects: John McAslan + Partners 
Project Management: HC 
Client: St Albans City and District Council 
General Contractor: Willmott Dixon 

Structural Engineers: Alan Baxter Associates 
Photographers: Nick Guttridge 

Commissioned by the St Albans City and District Council, the St Albans Museums and Galleries Trust and the University of Hertfordshire, the new St Albans Museum & Art Gallery makes a significant contribution to the rejuvenation of cultural life in the town and the outlying area.

Opened in 1831, St Albans Town Hall and Courtroom is a distinguished example of Neo-Greek architecture. Dating from the earliest days of local government and its assumed responsibilities for law and order, the building occupies a prominent position at the heart of this historic city. With the construction of the new civic centre in 1966 however, the Town Hall and Courtroom became redundant, remaining largely empty and underused for decades.

The architects led the multidisciplinary team which has delivered a conservation-led, sustainable future for this nationally important historic building.

Few buildings of this type, particularly the courtroom, survive in England and the practice has worked closely with key heritage bodies – Historic England, The City Council’s Conservation Team and The Heritage Lottery Fund.

The building’s 19th-century stuccoed elevations, Assembly Room and Courtroom have all been painstakingly refurbished and upgraded with integrated modern services.

The Assembly Room is now repurposed as a gallery to showcase the rich history of St Albans City, while the Courtroom has been refurbished as a creative educational resource and café seating area.

Visitors can also explore the basement below which houses the Victorian cells as well as a new gallery providing an environmentally controlled exhibition space to accommodate touring exhibitions and contemporary art shows. 

On the ground floor, a visitor information centre, café and further exhibition and educational spaces have transformed this historic building into a major cultural destination, while new glazed wings at first-floor level allow visitors to circulate through the building and enjoy impressive views out over the cathedral and surrounding townscape.