New £21.5m visitor attraction to open at iconic Jodrell Bank Observatory

The First Light Pavilion will be unveiled at the UNESCO World Heritage site on June 4.

Visitors to the new building will be able to learn about the stories behind the pioneering scientists at Jodrell Bank and their ground-breaking achievements in science and engineering.

Now all those involved in the First Light Project, which was supported by the National Lottery Heritage fund, are looking forward to welcoming the public through the doors.

Professor Teresa Anderson, director at the Jodrell Bank Centre for Engagement, spearheaded the project alongside colleague Professor Tim O'Brien.

Inside the exhibition (HASSELL Studio)

She said: "After years of planning, we are thrilled to finally be able to announce the opening of First Light.

"This moment will mark a whole new chapter for Jodrell Bank and we're looking forward to welcoming our first visitors through the doors and in to this beautiful new space."

What will the new visitor attraction feature?

Designed by architects HASSELL Studio, the striking building takes the form of a grass-topped 76m-diameter dome, which mirrors the shape and scale of the iconic Lovell Telescope.

The Pavilion entrance with the meridian line cutaway, above left (HASSELL Studio)

Other features include:

• A new permanent interactive exhibition inside the new Pavilion, which will bring to life the Jodrell Bank story, which dates back to 1945
• A state-of-the-art Space Dome with a custom-built auditorium which will offer every visitor an immersive audio-visual experience
• A temporary exhibition gallery with an opening show all about the realisation of the First Light project and the work done by constructors Kier
• A 130-cover café, complete with a terrace overlooking the Jodrell Bank Arboretum and a fresh menu using seasonal and sustainable produce –the café will serve breakfasts, lunches, cream teas and more, as well as champion local and artisan produce, from Goostrey gooseberries to Cheshire cheese

Also launching this year is a new guided tour of previously inaccessible areas of the Jodrell Bank site, which is part of the University of Manchester.

The Space Dome will offer an immersive audio-visual experience (HASSELL Studio)

A series of preview and pilot activities for First Light will begin from March onwards, before the public opening set for June.

The launch will be complimented by a celebratory summer-long season of community-engagement activity, public events, and a new formal education programme.

Eilish McGuinness, CEO of the National Lottery Heritage Fund, said: "Jodrell Bank is truly a unique heritage site, of national and international importance, with an inspirational story of Britain’s role as a leader in the science of the exploration of the universe, set in a landscape of great beauty and with iconic heritage at every turn.

"The National Lottery Heritage Fund awarded £12.5 million to the First Light Project so that the site’s powerful human stories of curiosity, exploration and discovery could be shared with the public.

"The stunning new building, its exciting exhibition, and an incredibly diverse and inclusive engagement programme, will all have a fantastic impact, delighting and inspiring every visitor, including the next generation of scientists following in the footsteps of Sir Bernard Lovell."

Diana Hampson, director of estates and facilities at The University of Manchester said: “This is a truly visionary build and a wealth of brilliant people have come together to bring it to life.

"The ambitious design has been expertly realised by the construction team at Kier and we couldn’t be more proud. We can’t wait to see it open to the public."

First Light at Jodrell Bank is supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, the UK Government (DCMS), the University of Manchester, and a number of donors, including the Wolfson, Garfield Weston, Denise Coates, and Stavros Niarchos foundations.