North East
Construction
Galliford Try Preston Park Museum & Grounds Stockton Council
“Preston Park’s transformation is set to deliver long-term benefits by attracting more visitors, boosting the local economy, and creating opportunities for residents to engage with cultural experiences closer to home”
Managing Director of Galliford Try Building North East and Yorkshire
Galliford Try’s Building North East and Yorkshire team has completed The Spence Building at Preston Park Museum in Stockton-on-Tees, a £10m extension that opens the Tees Valley to major touring exhibitions and nationally significant cultural events for the first time.
Procured via the Procure Partnerships Framework
The project marks a significant milestone in Preston Park Museum’s history and its continued development as a cultural hub for the Tees Valley, funded by the Government’s Levelling Up Fund.
For the first time, visitors across the region can enjoy high-profile cultural events and nationally significant loan exhibits without leaving the Tees Valley.
A cultural destination reimagined
The 1,600 sqm extension creates a modern exhibition space capable of hosting major touring exhibitions alongside the region’s existing collections. The project also breathed new life into the museum’s wider visitor offer.
The Spence Building directly addresses the cultural offer available to communities across the Tees Valley, bringing world-class exhibitions to a region that previously had to look elsewhere for nationally significant events.
The project is expected to attract more visitors to Stockton-on-Tees, boost the local economy, and create lasting opportunities for communities to engage with art, culture, and heritage on their doorstep.
What the £10m investment delivered
- 1,600 sqm modern exhibition gallery
- Capacity for major touring exhibitions
- Refurbished café — The Spence Café
- New gift shop
- Outdoor terrace overlooking the orchard
- Nationally significant loan exhibit capability
A new chapter for Preston Park Museum
Procured through the Procure Partnerships Framework and delivered by Galliford Try, The Spence Building marks the beginning of a new era for Preston Park Museum, connecting the Tees Valley to the very best of UK culture.
“It’s great to see The Spence Building now open to the public. Preston Park is of huge importance to the local community, and we’re delighted to have been part of its development. Preston Park’s transformation is set to deliver long-term benefits by attracting more visitors, boosting the local economy, and creating opportunities for residents to engage with cultural experiences closer to home.”
Cliff Wheatley
Managing Director, Galliford Try Building North East and Yorkshire