Queen Victoria Art Gallery & Museum

Project scope

Established in 1891, the Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery (QVMAG) is Australia's most expansive regional museum, spanning a history and natural science museum at Inveresk and an art gallery at Royal Park. QVMAG worked with COVA and architect Andrew Andersons to design a new gallery at the former railway yards in Inveresk, housing a major portion of the existing collection and hosting new exhibitions by contemporary artists from Australia and overseas.

COVA provided structural, civil, environmental and electrical engineering, and designed the air conditioning, lighting, fire and security systems and vertical transportation. The deteriorating existing building needed significant structural improvement, which COVA addressed with support arrangements that incorporated the redundant gantry cranes.

The museum relied on precise air conditioning to protect the works and keep visitors comfortable. After a research phase including CFD modelling of air flows, COVA designed a system that reduced temperature variation and accurately controlled humidity, using ultrasonic humidifiers and ground source heat pumps.

The computerised lighting design addresses shifting lighting needs and specific curatorial requirements. COVA also engineered the fire and smoke detection system and a two-level lift serving the upper-level curators' rooms, offices and storage.

← All projects