British Museum Round Reading Room Roof Oculus Works

British Museum
London
Open procedure
4 January 2027 to 31 March 2028

Works include stripping and rebuilding the Snow Gallery flat roof with cold-applied liquid waterproofing, conservation repairs to the copper dome, and replacement of the twenty-sided patent-glazed lantern with a bespoke tiered steel system. The package also covers window and historic laylight conservation, access upgrades, heating, LED lighting and BMS integration. Delivery requires complex scaffold and lifting logistics within an enclosed site, while protecting collections and managing asbestos and lead-based paint.

Open the official notice

Closes in 7 days· 19 October 2026

Estimated value: £9m; Buyer estimate
Published: 6 August 2026; Find a Tender
Deadline: 19 October 2026; 7 days left
Contract length: 15 months; Ends 31 March 2028

What the buyer is asking for

Principal contracting for conservation-led roof replacement, copper dome repairs, bespoke lantern glazing and building-services upgrades to a Grade I listed heritage building.

Lifecycle

Publishedon Find a Tender
6 August 2026
Deadline for bids7 days left
19 October 2026
Contract awardedUsually published within a few months
Contract starts
4 January 2027

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The buyer

Type: Other public body
Curtain walling contracts, 24 months: 0
Open curtain walling tenders: 1

See everything British Museum buys →

How it compares

111× the typical curtain walling contract (£81k).

Open for 56 days, longer than most curtain walling tenders (24 days).

Cite this tender

Link: https://bidskim.com/tender/3851899/british-museum-round-reading-room-roof-oculus-works
Buyer reference: BM.26.015
Open contracting ID: ocds-h6vhtk-06de58
Source: Find a Tender
Last checked: 12 October 2026

British Museum. British Museum Round Reading Room Roof Oculus Works. Tender, 6 August 2026. BidSkim, https://bidskim.com/tender/3851899/british-museum-round-reading-room-roof-oculus-works (accessed 12 October 2026).