The £68.7 million redevelopment, spearheaded by Renfrewshire Council and OneRen, was declared the winner in the Heritage Project category at the RICS Awards Scotland ceremony, which took place at Glasgow’s University of Strathclyde. 

The refurbishment was led by Kier Construction and faced competition from The Canna House, The National Trust Scotland; Preston Tower Doocot and Gardens; and John O’Groats Mill to get the national award. The project will now progress to the RICS UK Grand Final during October. 

Councillor Lisa-Marie Hughes, Renfrewshire Council’s spokesperson for culture and chair of OneRen, the charity that will run the museum, said: “The construction phase of the project is now complete, with Kier Construction bringing AL_A’s ambitious designs to life. The museum will reopen in late 2026, offering thousands of visitors a radical new view of Paisley, Scottish and world stories.

“The Museum is the culmination of more than a decade of investment in Paisley’s cultural buildings, and in the town itself, which has changed perceptions of our area and led to it being named Scotland’s Town of the Year recently.”

Hughes added: “I can’t wait for it to reopen and wish the team good luck in the UK Grand Final of the RICS awards in October – I have my fingers crossed!”  

Kier Scotland, led the submission of the project to the awards. They have transformed the design by the architects AL_A into a visitor attraction.

Phil McDowell, regional director for Kier Construction North & Scotland, said: “Winning in the heritage category is a powerful recognition of what we set out to achieve at Paisley Museum. Facilities like this museum are vital assets to the community and it is imperative we do all we can now to protect and modernise them for future audiences. 

“Working collaboratively with OneRen and Renfrewshire Council, this project has balanced respect for the town’s rich cultural heritage with modern design and innovation at the heart of the project, ensuring the museum remains relevant, inclusive, and inspiring for generations to come.”

A red-glass accessible entrance is also featured in the museum redesign. The A-listed main building and Coats Observatory – Scotland’s oldest public observatory – have been modernised, undergoing major external and internal repairs to provide refreshed galleries on every floor and increase the levels of collections on display.

A new garden and public area have also been introduced, which make previously hidden views of the Observatory now visible. Learning areas and a Heritage Archive Centre have also been introduced, together with a new café and shop.   

Hub Build, the exhibition fit-out specialists, are spearheading the next phase of the project, preparing and adding more displays created by the exhibition designers OPERA Amsterdam. 

In the final phase of the project, over 1,250 objects will be installed. 

Kerry Gibbs MRICS, UK National Awards chair, said: “This year we received over 300 entries across all twelve of the RICS regions, so the awards are hugely important. They help demonstrate the positive impact that surveyors, as well as buildings, have on individuals and communities. They promote the role of surveying in making those projects a reality.” 

The museum project has received funding from Renfrewshire Council, the National Lottery Heritage Fund, Historic Environment Scotland, and the Scottish Government. Fundraising from donors and benefactors has also been put forward.