The Sainsbury Centre has received a £91.2 million donation, one of the largest-ever gifts to a UK museum, which will be used to renovate its building.
Part of the University of East Anglia (UEA) campus in Norwich, the Sainsbury Centre art museum was designed by Norman Foster and opened in 1978. It was established following a donation of a collection of art by Sir Robert and Lady Lisa Sainsbury.
The £91.2m gift from Lord David Sainsbury through his Gatsby charitable foundation will enhance the Grade II-listed building as it approaches its 50th anniversary.
The Sainsbury Centre in Norwich, designed by Norman Foster and opened in 1978 after a donation of a collection of artAndy Crouch
"My father always regarded his commissioning of Norman Foster to produce the Sainsbury Centre as one of the best things he ever did, and it gives me great pleasure to provide the funding to enhance its future," he said.
The centre’s executive director, Jago Cooper, said: "This incredible gift secures the future of the Sainsbury Centre.
"Foster’s vision for the most radical art museum in the world half a century ago is being revitalised for the next generation of visitors.
"Long into the future the public can experience one of the best art collections in the world in an architectural wonder that breaks the museum rules."
The interior of the Sainsbury Centre, which has received a £91.2 million donation – one of the largest-ever gifts to a UK museum Kate Wolstenholme
The refurbishment will be carried out by Foster + Partners and will contribute to the university's commitment to achieving a net zero campus by 2045.
The project will "ensure that the Sainsbury Centre meets future sustainability targets – and can continue to welcome present and future generations for many decades to come", said Foster.
The architecture firm will improve the building's energy efficiency, enhance the visitor experience, and ensure easy maintenance.
Carbon emissions will be significantly reduced via photovoltaic panels in the new roof system and the replacement of aging environmental systems.
Guests walk towards the Sainsbury Centre art museum after exploring the sculpture park on the campusKate Wolstenholme
The project also includes renewed entrances, lifts, signage and flooring, renewed solar-controlled blinds to provide more natural light, and upgrades to the bathrooms, café, kitchen, and spaces for staff.
Additionally, the plan involves extending the south café terrace and enhancing the surrounding landscape to improve connections between the building and the sculpture trails.
"Designed as a gallery without walls, the Sainsbury Centre has always been defined by its ability to adapt," said Foster. "The inherently flexible framework of the building has allowed it to evolve over the past five decades."
