Malcolm Reading Consultants

Portland Parks & Recreation @portlandparks announced today that it has engaged architect search specialist Malcolm Reading Consultants (MRC) to manage the forthcoming design competition for the Governor Tom McCall Waterfront Park. Portland-based social impact consultancy Interplay @interplaycollective will lead the competition’s community engagement strategy. The open competition is expected to launch in Summer 2026 and run for six months. Follow the link in bio for more information, including details on how to be directly notified of the competition’s launch. Image credits: 1. © Sean P. Twomey 2. © Andrew Baum 3. Courtesy of Portland Parks & Recreation

Northwestern University has launched a new selection process to identify potential architect/engineer (A/E) partners to design a future engineering research building on its Evanston campus. The search is being managed by MRC in partnership with Northwestern Facilities. The University has recently completed a research facilities master planning process that identified space needs for its broader research and education ambitions. Northwestern is issuing an initial, wide call for US-based talent, to develop a longlist of potential partners. To express your firm’s interest, please complete a short online form (see link in bio) by the deadline of 12:00 PM CDT on Wednesday, April 15, 2026. Image credits: Shane Collins

The Foundation for the Development of the Lands Adjacent to the Baptism Site (the Foundation) announced today that the multi-disciplinary team led by Níall McLaughlin Architects (NMLA) has won the international competition for a new museum at Bethany, Jordan. The announcement concludes the six-month invited competition to find an outstanding architect-led team to deliver a design for an exemplary new museum dedicated to the history and significance of baptism in the Christian tradition. The winning concept was praised for its flair for multi-layered and immersive storytelling that focuses on communicating baptism’s power to offer spiritual renewal and new life. The competition, run by Malcolm Reading Consultants, brought together a shortlist of seven international studios and an Advisory Panel of thought leaders in architecture, landscape, museums and heritage. Together with landscape architect Kim Wilkie and exhibition design developed by Nissen Richards Studio, the proposal shows sensitivity to its surroundings and the adjacent UNESCO site. The Foundation will now work closely with the winning team to advance the design in coordination with UNESCO and in partnership with local communities and other stakeholders. Due to open in 2030 to mark the bimillennial of Christ’s baptism, the museum will be a globally significant spiritual and cultural landmark. Follow the link in bio for more information and to view the winning concept in the Finalists’ Gallery. Images courtesy of Níall McLaughlin Architects.

Looking forward to an exciting year ahead – 2026 will see a number of projects open, with designs selected through MRC run competitions or supported through our advisory work. Happy new year to all! 2. In 2026, one of Australia’s oldest cultural institutions will be renewed with the country’s largest arts investment since the Sydney Opera House. Moreau Kusunoki and Genton’s partnership won MRC’s Powerhouse Paramatta competition in 2019. 3. In New Delhi, 2026 will see the opening of the new Kiran Nadar Museum of Art & Cultural Center – anticipated to become India’s leading privately-funded arts institution. 4. Following celebrated cultural projects in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, the V&A East museum – part of MRC’s ‘Olympicopolis’ 2014-15 competition – will open in London. 5. The British Library’s project at Boston Spa, West Yorkshire, will open in 2026. MRC’s 2018 feasibility study distilled the vision to create a new national centre for excellence and distinctive presence for the Library. 6. Planned to open in 2026, the relocated London Museum – a reimagining of the former West Smithfield market – will transform this two-millennia-old site into an outstanding contemporary museum to showcase the institution’s six million artefacts. Almost 80 teams entered MRC’s 2016 competition. Images: 2. © Moreau Kusunoki 3. Courtesy of Adjaye Associates and KNMA 4. © @queenelizabetholympicpark 5. Courtesy of @land_studio 6. © Secchi Smith

As we come to the end of the year, we reflect on some of our past competitions which were realised in 2025: 2. In May, the National Gallery’s Sainsbury Wing reopened following its sensitive redesign by Selldorf Architects. MRC wrote the design brief and ran the selection process in 2020-21. 3. In London’s Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, O’Donnell + Tuomey’s Sadlers Wells East dance theatre opened in February. MRC ran the original ‘Olympicopolis’ competition for the East Bank project in 2014-15. 4. In September, the Chancery Rosewood Hotel, London, opened. David Chipperfield Architects were chosen to transform Eero Saarinen’s 1960 US Embassy through MRC’s 2015 competition. 5. The inaugural AlMusalla Prize Pavilion opened in January at the Islamic Arts Biennale. Designed by EAST Architecture and selected through MRC’s competition, the pavilion is made of ‘waste’ date palm fronds and has since travelled to Venice and Bukhara. 6. Foster + Partners’ KSA Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka, the winner of MRC’s competition, won the BIE’s top architectural prize and welcomed over three million visitors. 7. In June, Doha’s Ned Hotel – a reworking of the former Ministry of Interior building by David Chipperfield Architects – was shortlisted for the Aga Khan Award for Architecture. 8. The Jackson Library at Exeter College, Oxford by Nex won the 2025 RIBA South Building of the Year Award. Following a feasibility study, MRC ran the 2019 competitive selection process. 9. Allies and Morrison’s London College of Fashion in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, also part of Olympicopolis, was shortlisted for the 2025 Stirling Prize and won 2025 RIBA London and National Awards. 10. Our Chairman Malcolm Reading was awarded the Lieutenant of the Royal Victorian Order (LVO) in the 2025 New Year’s Honours List for his services to the UK Royal Household. Images credits: 2. © The National Gallery, London. Photo Edmund Sumner 3. © @queenelizabetholympicpark 4. Photo by Edmund Sumner 5. Photo by Marco Cappelletti, courtesy of the Diriyah Biennale Foundation 6. Courtesy of KSA’s Ministry of Culture 7. © Simon Menges 8. © Nex / Will Pryce 9. © @queenelizabetholympicpark

Kistefos Museum, a much-admired art and heritage destination, an hour north of Oslo, has announced that Swiss practice Christ & Gantenbein has been chosen through MRC’s international competition to design a spectacular new museum building. The two-stage competition was organised by Malcolm Reading Consultants, with an invited call for submissions from which an international shortlist of eight firms was chosen to develop concept designs. Christ & Gantenbein’s design met the competition’s call to create an original design and exemplar of sustainable design and practices. Elegant and flexible, the new museum building will transform the visitor experience at Kistefos, drawing new and international audiences. Due to open in 2031, the standalone museum building will become a permanent home for Kistefos Founder, investor and art collector Christen Sveaas’ significant art collection via the eponymous Christen Sveaas Art Foundation. The project benefits from a picturesque wooded and riverine setting within the wider Kistefos site, one of Europe’s leading sculpture parks. Follow the link in bio for more information. All images courtesy of @kistefos 1 - Photo: Tomasz Majewski 3 - Photo: Albrecht Fuchs 6 - All of Nature Flows Through Us, Marc Quinn; Photo: Ian Brodie 8 - Path of Silence, Jeppe Hein; Photo: Ian Brodie

The State of Qatar has announced that it is dedicating a key site on Doha’s waterfront to a new headquarters for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which is known globally for its mediating role. Created to establish a more visible civic presence for the nation’s diplomatic service and offer the public unprecedented access to the Ministry complex, the project will transform a prominent section of the city’s iconic Corniche. Through an invited international competition, the commission to design the headquarters has been awarded to architect @fridaescobedo , founder and principal of the Mexico City and New York-based Frida Escobedo Studio. The competition was organised and managed by Malcolm Reading Consultants on behalf of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Qatar Museums. Follow the link in bio for more information @mba_althani_ @almayassabnthamad @mofa.qatar @qatar_museums

The Foundation for the Development of the Lands Adjacent to the Baptism Site has revealed the seven concept designs proposed in the international competition for a new museum at Bethany, Jordan. The international finalists’ proposals are now available to view in an online gallery via the competition website. The shortlisted teams are led by (in alphabetical order): • AAU Anastas (PS / FR / JO) @aauanastas • heneghan peng architects (IE) @heneghanpeng • Níall McLaughlin (UK) @niallmclaughlinarchitects • Studio Anne Holtrop (NL) @studioanneholtrop • Tatiana Bilbao Estudio (MX) @tabilbaoestudio • Toshiko Mori Architect (US) @toshiko.mori.architect • Trahan Architects (US) @trahanarchitects An Advisory Panel made up of esteemed thought leaders across fields of architecture, landscape, museums and heritage will meet later in the Fall to interview the finalists and make a recommendation to the Foundation’s Board. Due to open in 2030 to mark the bimillennial of Christ’s baptism, the museum will be a globally significant spiritual and cultural landmark, deepening the experience of visiting the Baptism Site, located on the east bank of the Jordan River. A winner announcement is expected in early 2026. Follow the link in bio for full team details and more information (including image credits).

MRC congratulates Saudi Arabia for receiving the Gold Award for Architecture and Landscape for self-built pavilions larger than 1,500 square metres at the Bureau International des Expositions Official Participant Awards. MRC ran the invited competition to find an outstanding team to design a spectacular and immersive pavilion, under the leadership of the Kingdom’s Architecture and Design Commission. Follow the link in bio for more information. Images courtesy of KSA’s Ministry of Culture.

MRC is delighted to announce the Advisory Panel that will support the Foundation for the Development of the Lands Adjacent to the Baptism Site in evaluating the finalists’ design proposals as this landmark competition gathers pace. The Advisory Panel comprises global stars with specialisms across architecture, landscape, museums and heritage: • Dr Tharwat AlMasalha (Panel Chair) Chairman of the Board of Trustees, The Foundation for the Development of the Lands Adjacent to the Baptism Site • Professor Barry Bergdoll, Meyer Professor of Art History, Department of Art History and Archaeology at Columbia University • Mr David B. Greenbaum, FAIA, LEED AP, Director of Culture and Museums, Gensler • Princess Alia Al-Senussi, PhD, Senior Advisor, KSA's Ministry of Culture and Art Basel; Visiting Professor, Virginia Commonwealth University, Qatar; Chairman, K11 Art Foundation International Council • Mr Ousama Gabi Ghannoum, Member of the BDZ Board of Trustees and Member of the Museum Committee • Professor Mónica Luengo, Landscape Architect and Art Historian; Member of Honour of the International Scientific Committee on Cultural Landscapes ICOMOS-IFLA • Dr Leen A. Fakhoury, Heritage expert and Architect; Industrial Professor – German Jordan University (GJU) • Mr Aziz Husein, Global Lead, Built Environment, Aga Khan Trust for Culture (Aga Khan Foundation) Watch out for the next competition update when the keenly-anticipated design proposals are revealed in an online gallery in the late Fall. A winner announcement is expected in early 2026. Follow the link in bio for more information about the competition, Advisory Panel and shortlist. Image credits: • Images courtesy of The Foundation for the Development of the Lands Adjacent to the Baptism Site and Malcolm Reading Consultants. • Professor Barry Bergdoll – image courtesy of Ferrante Ferranti • Princess Alia Al-Senussi, PhD – image courtesy of Princess Alia Al-Senussi, PhD • Mr Ousama Gabi Ghannoum – image courtesy of Salam Studio • Mr Aziz Husein – image courtesy of Select Fotostudio, Geneva

The seven international design teams shortlisted for a new site-specific museum to honor Jesus Christ’s baptism at Bethany, Jordan, were announced today. Due to open in 2030 to mark the bimillennial of Christ’s baptism, the new museum is expected to be a globally significant spiritual and cultural landmark. The forthcoming museum benefits from a site adjacent to the UNESCO World Heritage Site — Baptism Site “Bethany Beyond the Jordan” (Al-Maghtas), located on the east bank of the Jordan River, which has been a Christian pilgrimage destination for centuries. The project is endorsed by His Majesty King Abdullah II bin Al-Hussein of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and is led by the Foundation for the Development of the Lands Adjacent to the Baptism Site. The competition, organized by MRC, challenges teams to respond a brief that focuses on creating an exemplary story-led museum and garden in a sacred place surrounded by a preserved wilderness — a setting dedicated to the history and significance of baptism in the Christian faith. The shortlisted teams are led by: • AAU Anastas (PS / FR / JO) @aauanastas • heneghan peng architects (IE) @heneghanpeng • Níall McLaughlin (UK) @niallmclaughlinarchitects • Studio Anne Holtrop (NL) @studioanneholtrop • Tatiana Bilbao Estudio (MX) @tabilbaoestudio • Toshiko Mori Architect (US) @toshiko.mori.architect • Trahan Architects (US) @trahanarchitects The shortlisted teams’ concept designs will be revealed in Fall 2025 and the winning team announced towards the end of the year. Follow the link in bio for full team details and more information (including image credits).

The UK Government announced today that Foster + Partners, working with artist Yinka Shonibare CBE and landscape designer Michel Desvigne, has been selected as the winner of the competition to design the national memorial to Queen Elizabeth II in St James’s Park, London. The winning design concept includes a new bridge inspired by the late Queen’s wedding tiara, a Prince Philip Gate and new gardens dedicated to the Commonwealth and the communities of the United Kingdom. The Queen Elizabeth Memorial Committee’s selection panel valued Foster + Partners’ artistry, use of space, technical skills and their sensitivity to the memorial’s location. Foster + Partners will now develop their initial concept and select a sculptor in close partnership with the Queen Elizabeth Memorial Committee. The final design will be formally announced in April 2026 alongside a legacy programme. Follow the link in bio for more information and to view the winner and finalists’ design concepts. Images courtesy of Foster + Partners.