Ralph Appelbaum Associates

The gallery redevelopment of the newly reopened Harris in Preston is part of a once-in-a-generation £16 million transformation that reimagines the Grade I listed building as a dynamic hub for culture, learning, and community. RAA developed a comprehensive design strategy that rethinks how visitors engage with collections, spaces and services.

From early interpretation planning to final fit-out, the team crafted every stage of the visitor journey through a unified spatial and visual language. Interactive exhibits, digital storytelling and bold graphic interventions are seamlessly integrated across museum, library and gallery collections, anchored by welcoming public areas including a café, atrium and retail spaces. 

The Harris Your Place project represents a bold reimagining of one of Lancashire’s most iconic buildings, unlocking its potential as a cultural anchor for Preston and the wider region. Conceived as an accessible civic landmark, the transformation blends art, history, community, and a refreshed library service into a seamless public offering. Welcoming an additional 100,000 visitors annually, it now stands as an open and inclusive institution, shaped by and for its communities.

Hands-on experiences, adaptable event spaces, and displays reflecting Preston’s diverse past and present define the revitalized Harris. RAA’s design response builds on these goals – shaping a visitor experience that is welcoming, intuitive, and culturally resonant. Through interpretive planning, exhibition design, and strategic coordination, RAA helped realize the client’s vision for a renewed institution that places Preston firmly on the UK’s cultural map.