As reported in the Piper back in February, it is the biggest project they have been involved in since building their road circuit in 1990 and once completed, the building is expected to radically improve the way the museum operates.

In 2000, all registered museums in Scotland were audited by the Scottish Museums Council - the sector's industry lead body. The museum scored very well in all areas although a need was identified to allow the core collection to grow and to be housed in secure and effective storage when not on display.

Acute lack of a storage facility for large objects had imposed a limit on collecting and expanding the GTM collection, but the new large object store will allow the collection to grow.

Externally, the building will appear as a large two-tone green warehouse-style structure, with curved roof, similar to traditional aircraft hangers (pictured).

It has been designed following extensive research and visits by museum trustees to the very latest such buildings.

Inside will be new toilets to facilitate the museum's events programme, as well as a new school/meetings room, office and large first floor.

A six-ton vehicle lift will take stored cars, carriages and motorcycles onto the upper floor to make optimum use of the height of the structure.
Some serviced storage will also be offered for privately-owned vehicles at commercial rates.

The project was made possible by the partnership formed by two similar charitable trusts.

The GTM will share the new facility with the Aberdeen and District Transport Preservation Trust (ADTPT) whose trustees care for a collection of historic buses. The entire development has been fully-funded without grant aid from any public body.

On the ground floor of the new building will be two workshops, both of which will be run by volunteers from the two trusts and equipped to deal with large and small restoration projects, servicing and maintenance.

The new facility will allow public access for booked parties, schools and special events. It has been designed with the display storage of reserve collections firmly in mind. It is anticipated that a walk-through will become a popular part of the visitor's experience.

Museum curator Mike Ward said: "The building will also be managed to allow for rationalisation of the museum's seasonal cycle. At present, any engineering works are concentrated into the first two months of the closed season and have to be carried out within the public exhibition space.

"Our efforts to keep several key exhibits in roadworthy order are severely constrained by this very short window in November and December and the team of volunteers often find themselves forced to move unfinished projects aside as, by January, preparations for re-opening with new exhibitions take clear priority.

"The new building will feature space and purpose-built well-equipped workshops to properly accommodate this kind of behind-the-scenes activity over a full 12-month period.

"The level of involvement in the conservation work of the museum by volunteers, mostly from the local area, will be increased as more projects can be accommodated in a well-lit, safe, spacious, purpose- built modern building."

He said that for the past five years, the GTM had participated in various government-backed training and employment initiatives and that this activity would increase, along with training courses and workshops in museum practice, aspects of vehicle restoration, and participation in a UK-wide initiative to retain traditional trade and craft skills, now known as heritage skills.

New events are planned to make use of the large undercover areas and to expand activity into the winter season.

Staff at the museum are also looking forward to being able to radically change the exhibitions staged in the museum itself as, at present, a lack of storage has always meant several large exhibits have to remain on display at all times.

It is expected this much more ambitious rate of renewal and change will increase the return visits from the visitor catchment and holidaymakers.

The building work is on schedule for completion this winter and should be housing collections from the spring.