The Royal Academy today announces plans to expand its Collection Gallery in Burlington Gardens into an ambitious and elegant double-height space.
This project will significantly enhance the RA’s free offer for visitors by allowing a greater selection of works from the RA’s rich collection to be displayed.
It is designed by David Chipperfield Architects, who completed the RA’s transformative
redevelopment in 2018 and the RA Schools restoration and renewal project in 2024, together with Julian Harrap Architects. Burlington Gardens was originally designed by Sir James Pennethorne for the University of London and opened in 1870.
The RA Collection Gallery project will restore, in a modern interpretation of its original design, Pennethorne’s double-height examination hall in the west wing of the building. The project will create a striking 12-metre-high gallery with a mezzanine on the first floor, ensuring accessibility at both levels. The design allows for greater freedom in how the gallery can be used, opening up the opportunity to share new inspiring narratives from the RA Collection, whilst creating an inviting space to welcome visitors.
The current Collection Gallery will close to the public from 10 October. The whole of 6 Burlington
Gardens will close to the public from 27 October and will reopen in early 2027. Burlington House, accessible from Piccadilly, will remain open as usual and the RA’s 2026 exhibition programme will be unaffected.
Simon Wallis OBE, Secretary and Chief Executive of the Royal Academy of Arts said: ‘The RA has an important and growing permanent collection. This project will create a stunning David Chipperfield Architects designed double-height gallery, restoring the building with reference to its original design and further enhancing our offer to visitors. We are extremely grateful to our anonymous donor for their support on this very special project.’
Main Image: Visualisation of the Royal Academy’s new double-height Collection Gallery.
Image: David Chipperfield Architects