London’s National Army Museum will undergo an extensive remodelling after receiving confirmation of an £11.5m (US$19.4m, €14m) grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund.

The museum is aiming to modernise the display of its collection. Instead of a chronological arrangement, thematic gallery spaces will tell the story of the relationship between the army and society over the last 600 years.

New learning centres will aim to improve on participatory aspects of the museum, while the galleries will include interactive displays. The museum’s collection will also undergo full digitisation, and an outreach programme will take parts of it nationwide.

The building itself will undergo extensive work to become “brighter and airier”. A large atrium will be constructed as well as a glass front, and a cafe will also be included. Construction work will begin this autumn.

In total, the project will cost £23.25m (US$39.2m, €28.3m), with the rest of the money coming from donations and fundraising efforts.

As a result of the expansion, the museum predicts a 30 percent rise in visitors when building work finishes in 2016. Visitor figures of 250,000 were recorded during 2012/2013.

A BDP-led design team, which also included exhibition designer Event Communications and project manager and cost consultant Focus Consultants, was appointed by the museum to develop the project for the funding bid. Finalised contracts will now be put in place for the remainder of the project, with BDP in place as the lead design contractors.