Some of the world's best science exhibits to be hosted at Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester

A spectacular new 725 metre square flexible gallery is now complete and ready to originate and host some of the world’s best science exhibitions and experiences in the North, thanks to a generous £3.8 million grant. 

Designed by award-winning architectural practice Carmody Groarke, working alongside Manchester building contractor HH Smith & Sons, the transformation of the lower ground floor of the museum’s Grade II listed New Warehouse reveals grand industrial beauty with stunning modern and sustainable design.

Sir Richard Leese, Leader of Manchester City Council, says: “The impact of this transformational project on our city will be immediate.

"The incredible new experiences that this spectacular gallery will bring will be integral to the cultural and skills recovery of our city through science, arts, technology and innovation for everyone.” 

It opens-up public access as a gallery space to this part of the much-loved museum’s globally significant site for the first time. 

Director Sally MacDonald, says: “We are dedicated to inspiring audiences with ideas that change the world.

"This year has brought home to all of us how fundamentally science shapes our lives.

"As we all rebuild personally, socially and culturally, and look forward to better things in 2021, we can’t wait to share this phenomenal new exhibition space.

"Our new Special Exhibitions Gallery will deliver a real step change in increasing access to incredible science exhibitions and collections." 

The original and the modern have been combined to pave the way for a sustainable gallery of the future, setting a new design standard for the rest of the masterplan of the museum to follow in years to come. 

                                              Welcome Area

An improved outdoor welcome area in the lower courtyard of the museum is fully accessible and provides stunning vistas under the historic Viaduct (also known as the Pineapple Line) with its monumental round cast iron and square sandstone pillars infilled with brick jack-arching.

The £5 million Special Exhibitions Gallery is being generously funded by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, Wellcome and Garfield Weston Foundation, with further support from the Kirby Laing Foundation and The Zochonis Charitable Trust.

Culture Minister, Caroline Dinenage, says: "This new gallery opens up a wealth of opportunity for the Science and Industry Museum and demonstrates the importance of not only the heart of Manchester but the whole of the North West.

"This exciting space will educate and inspire visitors from their local community and beyond and I am pleased that with DCMS funding the museum has been able to complete this important expansion.

"I can't wait to see what fascinating exhibitions they have in store."

The museum remains temporarily closed and will re-open its doors when it is safe to do so in the coming weeks. The inaugural exhibition hosted in the Science and Industry Museum’s new Special Exhibition Gallery will be Top Secret: From Ciphers to Cyber Security, curated by the Science Museum Group with the help of expert advisors, GCHQ, the UK’s intelligence and cyber agency.

 

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