A Transformational World Class Development in Wales

Public consultation is now underway on the Museum of Military Medicine’s plans to build a new museum facility and medical innovation hub in Cardiff Bay.

In 2016 the Museum of Military Medicine (MMM) embarked upon an ambitious transformation programme as part of a longer-term project to relocate the museum from Keogh Barracks, near Aldershot, to Cardiff, in South Wales, by 2022. In addition to designing a new museum facility in Cardiff, all aspects of the Museum’s operations and governance have been revisited with a view to transforming MMM from a supported regimental collection to a self-sustaining cultural and innovation enterprise.

Previously the museum was investigating a site on the junction of Hemingway Road with Lloyd George Avenue, but in April 2018 Cardiff Council suggested an alternative site on Britannia Quay, opposite the Norwegian Church on Harbour Drive. The new location has enabled the museum to reconsider the facility as a new paradigm in visitor attractions, offering a world class visitor experience and well as being a centre for research, innovation and leadership. While it will retain the museum’s unique collections and archives at its core, the new facility will engage audiences through immersive and interactive displays, and with academic partners will explore medical innovation and its application as well as offer leadership and management programmes. In addition, the museum has established international partnerships in Linz and Copenhagen with the aim of bringing the Deep Space 8K facility to Cardiff and a biennial medical innovation festival.

Designed by international architects Scott Brownrigg, the building on Britannia Quay will enable the Museum to refocus its offer, using the collections and digital technology to explore innovations in trauma medicine during conflict and healthcare management in humanitarian relief and how these health benefits accrued from military medicine have contributed to the wellbeing and general health benefit of civilian populations globally. The museum will also feature an active public engagement programme featuring serving personnel, academics, and medical practitioners, to bring medical innovation and practice to public attention.

Conferencing, the Deep Space, temporary exhibitions, events, as well as educational programs and innovative research partnerships will all contribute to national wellbeing agendas, placing Wales at the forefront of UK innovation in healthcare.

For more information on the museum’s planned facility on Harbour Drive as part of the public consultation, see: https://mmmuseum.wixsite.com/public-consultation