Jodrell Bank Discovery Centre Development Diary
Things are really taking shape here and staff are becoming excited at the prospect of settling into the new Planet Pavilion soon(pictured). The landscaping is starting to look great and the new carpark is a fantastic improvement.
The exhibition areas are still being fitted out but having had a sneak peek it's looking brilliant. The Café is coming along nicely and the final seal for the flooring is being laid in the new few days.
We are receiving lots of public interest about the new centre.If you would like to be put on our database so we can let you know when we're opening, please email us at jodrellmarketing@manchester.ac.uk.
It's a beautiful sunny day out here in Cheshire. It's all hands to the deck this week and the builders continue to work hard across the whole of the site. The latest addition to the site is our new bike shed.....so if you and the family fancy a summer bike ride we will be able to accommodate your green transport!
The Planet Pavilion has welcomed the designers today who are starting to develop one of our exhibition displays. Our Café is also starting to take shape(pictured). Glass windows and outside decking have been completed whilst interior work still continues.
The programme is coming along nicely and on track as planned. The Planet Pavilion (pictured) flooring has been laid and sealed, the new kitchen for our café is being installed next week. The walls to the exhibition room have been plastered.
Plastering and decorating work still continues in both buildings. The vast landscaping work will carry on for a while but site is transforming everyday.
The NEW Discovery Centre is really coming to life and our newly laid pathways (pictured) are looking fantastic. These pathways will guide visitors from the Planet Pavilion straight down to the Lovell Telescope.
Both the Planet and Space Pavilion interiors have begun to be painted and decorated. The flooring is being laid and sealed in the next few days and the classroom is near completion.
Having received delivery of the glass, both the Planet and Space Pavilions are now watertight!
The builders continue to work hard and are making great headway with the interior developments. Outside, the pathways are starting to look fantastic. These are new paths that will guide visitors from the Planet Pavilion and enable them to get up close to the Lovell Telescope
The glass has been delivered this week so we are hoping that both the Planet and Space Pavilions will be watertight anytime soon.
Landscaping work still continues on throughout the site and the new pathways are becoming more definitive each day.
It's become very muddy on site since the centre closed to the public. The development is moving along at some speed with all hands on deck. Everyday something new is created and our dream is quickly becoming a reality. Both buildings have completed exterior walls and the interior fittings are being developed.
The new circular classroom (pictured) in the Space Pavilion has taken shape this week, as well as the landscaping of new pathways.
Happy New Year to you all.
All of the black shiny walls have now been completed on the Planet Pavilion and work has begun inside the building. We hope to see delivery of the glass windows/doors in the next coming weeks.
The Space Pavilion is also coming along nicely and the roof and foundations are complete. The builders will be concentrating on putting up the walls in the next week or so. Keep visiting for more updates!
It has been a great week for us here at Jodrell. The first external wall has been completed and it looks fantastic. The shiny black panels are embossed with the picture of our radio galaxy on the front which really brings the building to life. The next few days will see the rest of the wall panels put up whilst we wait for the delivery of the glass windows.
The weather has warmed up a little allowing us to pour the concrete for the Space Pavilion. Once completely set the builders will get to work on adding the walls panels to this building.
The Planet Pavilion is taking shape today and the builders are working hard through the cold to get the walls completed as soon as possible. The walls are very thick and well insulated to help keep the building warm and energy efficient throughout the year. The panels are black ansd shiny and will have a radio galaxy embossed on the front. So far its looking fantastic!
The Space Pavilion is also moving along nicely and the foundations are being prepared ready for the concrete to be poured....weather permitting.
As the cold weather sets in we are still making good progress with the project. The Planet Pavilion roofing is nearly finished and the glass wall panels have been delivered. Before the walls can be put into place the flooring has to be finished off and sealed. We expect the walls to take shape later on next week.
On the other part of the site where the Space Pavilion is, the steel frame work (as pictured)is complete. The concrete flooring and roofing will also start to develop in the next few weeks.
This week we have seen the scaffolding put up on the roof section so that the builders can get ready to install the roofing panels. The foundations will also be finished off next week and the wall panels are being delivered in the next couple of weeks. We should have a watertight building by christmas.
On the other part of the site, the old visitor centre foundations have begun to take shape and we are hoping the steel framework will be installed next week.
1st November 2010
As the cold weather begins to set in, the builders are still working hard on the new Discovery Centre. In the next few days we await the delivery of the roof and hopefully it will start to take shape in the new few days. No doubt it will be a welcome shelter for the builders.
On the other part of the site, the old visitor centre has been completely demolished and the area is being prepared to make way for new foundations for the Space Pavilion. (our events and exhibition area).
18th October 2010
The project is making great headway! This week the structural steelwork has been put in place to get ready for the walls to be built. The new centre is being built on some of the existing car park. It will sit between the Gardens and the Lovell Telescope.
On the other part of the site, the old visitor centre has been completely demolished and the area is being cleared to make way for new foundations for the Space Pavilion.
It's demolition day!! Today we stood in excitement and watched the old visitor centre disappear before us. The project is happening so fast and new things develop every day.
As part of the demolition, all of the materials from the visitor centre will be separated into piles and recycled.
This week all the staff are working hard to clear out all of the old visitor centre equipment and get it ready for demolishing next week.
Once demolished, this area will become our new Space Pavilion. The building will house an events space, an exciting exhibition area and a classroom.
Construction finally begins! This is a very exciting week for the Jodrell Bank visitor team as we watch the builders set up camp with their cabins and machinery.
Throughout the week the hoardings are delivered and assembled on the car park so that the builders can get to work on the foundations for the new visitor centre (known as the Planet Pavilion).
Discovery Centre Ground Breaking.
Photo by Howard Barlow.
Scientists, Builders and Architects gathered at Jodrell Bank today to celebrate the beginning of construction of a new 'Live Science' Discovery Centre at the site. Jodrell Bank Founder, Sir Bernard Lovell, officially got the project underway at a private ceremony on the building site itself.
Artist's impression: University of Manchester & Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios.
The Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) and the Northwest European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) have confirmed funding of 3.1 million pounds to kick-start the development of a new Science Discovery Centre at Jodrell Bank. The Centre aims to inspire budding young scientists and showcase cutting-edge research 'as it happens'. The announcement coincides with confirmation that the exciting redevelopment project has been granted planning permission by Cheshire East Council, meaning that work could start on site as soon as next month.
We are grateful to the following organisations for their support:
Page Editor: Katy Dixon