BDP appointed to design £100m expansion of Leeds Royal Armouries museum

BDP has been appointed to design a £100m expansion of the venue for UKREiiF in Leeds.

The practice beat a shortlist of top architecture firms to win the overhaul of the Royal Armouries, which is both a museum of historic weapons and armour and Leeds’ largest conference venue.

The museum is also known for hosting one of the world’s largest jousting competitions, featuring contestants on horseback and dressed in full historically accurate armour, on a neighbouring outdoor arena called the Tiltyard.

BDP’s planned expansion would be built on the Tiltyard site and would create a new nine-storey building centred on a 3,500sq m commercial exhibition and events hall.

Set to be submitted for planning in 2027, the scheme would more than double the site’s existing facilities and create around 8,000sq m of conference space along with cultural, hospitality and leisure space.

A new purpose-built venue for “immersive experiences” would also be created on an adjacent site. The museum has said the project will provide “improved opportunities” for jousting events.

Vicky Casey, BDP architect director and head of the firm’s Leeds studio said: “The Royal Armouries already has an extraordinary story and its significance to the regeneration of Leeds feels particularly poignant at this moment in the city’s development. 

“The project gives us an opportunity to create a new destination on the waterfront and at its heart is a simple idea - to bring people together through new creative experiences, live interpretation, and the exchange of ideas. 

“This appointment means a huge amount to BDP and we are immensely proud to be part of the next chapter for this incredible venue.” 

The museum is part of the UK’s Royal Armouries collection, which is split across three sites in Leeds, the Tower of London and Fort Nelson near Portsmouth.