The world-famous Jodrell Bank Observatory will open its live science Discovery Centre next week.
The £3m project includes a new entrance building, the Planet Pavilion, and a new Space Pavilion for exhibitions and events. It also includes a glass-walled café with spectacular views of the iconic Lovell telescope, an education space and landscaping of the Gardens.
Its main aim is to inspire young scientists and connect them to cutting-edge research as it happens. The project has been made possible by an investment of £1.9m by the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) and £1m from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) in the Northwest. An additional £600,000 of funding will come from The University of Manchester.
The opening caps a spectacular few months for Jodrell Bank and the University. The site has recently been shortlisted for World Heritage Site status and this week it was announced that the headquarters of the Square Kilometer Array, the world's largest telescope, will be based at Jodrell Bank.
Dr Teresa Anderson, the Centre's Director, said: "We're delighted that our new Centre is opening bang on schedule and that it will be such a great experience for visitors. We're really looking forward to welcoming lots of new people to Jodrell Bank in the next few months and years."
Nick Brook-Sykes, NWDA's Director of Tourism added: "Jodrell Bank is already an icon in the Northwest and a visitor attraction in its own right, but it has the potential to attract many more national and international visitors to the region. This investment will help create a richer, more inspiring visitor experience which is more fitting to this beacon of science and research."
The Centre will open to the public on Monday, 11th April. For further information visit its new website at www.jodrellbank.net.
Photo: Planet Pavilion by Anthony Holloway.
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Great iconic landmark and amazing bit of technical kit too :-)