A MAJOR construction milestone has been reached at Jodrell Bank Discovery Centre as the new First Light Pavilion saw its concrete dome roof installed.
The installation involved 381 cubic metres of concrete being poured into a mould spanning 50 metres to create the single structure domed roof.
Picture credit: Kier
The continuous concrete pour took 10 hours and 15 minutes to complete, assisted by 59 Covid-compliant operatives on site.
Ryan Southern, of Kier Construction, who are leading the building project, said: “The concrete pour for the dome structure represented a big moment in the project and took a lot of careful planning to ensure its success.
Picture credit: Kier
“It involved a complex methodology, so we’re delighted to see this important stage of the construction come together so well. We must also thank our supply chain, Mayo Civil’s, for their efforts.”
The Pavilion, designed by HASSELL and set to open to the public next year, forms part of a major new project that will share and celebrate the pioneering heritage of Jodrell Bank, the UK’s latest UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Picture credit: Kier
Once complete the new building will house an exhibition and immersive auditorium dedicated to telling the stories of Jodrell Bank.
A new gallery will reuse sections of the original 1957 observation dish from the Lovell Telescope as a backdrop for displays and projections covering periods in the site’s rich history from its early beginnings, through the Space Race and the Cold War, to the present day.
Picture credit: Kier
Meanwhile, an auditorium will provide space for planetarium shows, evening lectures, film projections and cultural events.
Discovery Centre director, Professor Teresa Anderson said: “We’re thrilled to have reached this milestone and are delighted to be able to see the new building take shape.
“We can’t wait to be able to welcome visitors to this beautiful new building and share with them the stories of Jodrell Bank and its pioneering scientists.”
The round, dome-like structure of the building cleverly mirrors the circumference of the iconic Lovell Telescope.
Artists impression of the entrance. Picture credit: HASSELL
Within the dome are cutaways, including the Pavilion’s entrance built into a curved concrete wall, designed to reflect the arc of the sun.
Two separate walls then guide visitors in, with a single glass slot cut out at the centre, illuminating a meridian line cast onto the floor at the entrance, echoing a history of astronomy in architecture.
The £20.5 million project has been made possible with £12.1 million of funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund and a further £4 million from the Department of Culture, Media and Sport.
An artists impression overview. Picture: HASSELL
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