Shetland Museum and Archives sits at the edge of Hay’s Dock, Lerwick. The development has regenerated a formerly run-down area of the waterfront and ensured the preservation of one of the last remaining areas of original dock in the harbour. While the Museum was officially opened in 2007, KSLD were involved from 2003, allowing the lighting scheme to be integrated fully within the overall architectural design.

The building houses two floors of permanent exhibition gallery, the Boat Hall, a temporary exhibition gallery (Da Gadderie), café, auditorium and archive and study areas. The permanent exhibitions chart the natural and social history of the Shetland Isles. The displays include a large number of cases, wall mounted graphics and text panels, and large exhibition build elements.

Cases are top-lit using low voltage lamps, connected to self-dimming transformers. General exhibition lighting is provided by track mounted spotlights. The ground floor gallery utilises low voltage dichroic (MR16) lamps while low voltage reflector (AR111) lamps are used at the first floor, where the gallery is double-height. In terms of museum lighting, these lamps offer excellent colour rendering, are fully dimmable, and come in range of beam angles. Additional lenses and meshes were used to modify the distribution.

The double-height Boat Hall is located in the tower at the end of the building and is a striking feature, both internally and externally. Various traditional fishing vessels are suspended within the space, some with sails fully open. A floating backlit ceiling emphasises the height and angled planes of the tower. Custom spotlights mounted at lighting track at the perimeter allow the boats to be lit from a range of angles. This accommodates the various viewing angles: while the main exhibition is located at ground floor, the Boat Hall can also be viewed from a balcony at first floor level.