Magna – the new science adventure centre in Rotherham

Citation

(2002), "Magna – the new science adventure centre in Rotherham", Facilities, Vol. 20 No. 1/2. https://doi.org/10.1108/f.2002.06920aaf.001

Magna – the new science adventure centre in Rotherham

Magna – the new science adventure centre in Rotherham

Keywords: Science, Engineering

Magna is the UK's first science adventure centre. The former Templeborough Steelworks site provided an outstanding opportunity to create a visitor attraction themed round the four elements; earth, air, fire and water. Lottery, public and some private funds have realised the vision, utilising the building shell and some of the original equipment, cleverly incorporating the atmosphere and drama of the place, drawing people in and, in the process, regenerating the area.

Re-using the giant 400,000 square foot building to create an attractive visitor centre presented significant challenges in exhibition design and architecture. By weaving a series of walkways, bridges, lift cores and new structures into the huge space, architect Wilkinson Eyre created an extraordinary environment for visitors to explore. Exhibition designers Event Communications created six exhibition areas: four element galleries and two audio visual shows. Throughout, the emphasis has been on bringing art and science together, Magna makes science fun and appealing.

The conversion provided some interesting challenges to the team at Buro Happold, the Mechanical, Electrical and Fire Engineering Consultants for the project.

The entrance to Magna is through The Human Element, a focus on the steel works and the history and lives of its people. It is positioned in a vast main bay, measuring 350 metres in length, and seven storeys high, formerly home to the melting shop. From the top of the 21-metre display visitors appreciate the enormous scale of the building.

As heating the vast shed was not an option, the entire building was treated as a giant rain and snow screen and sunshade, with each individual pavilion providing an appropriate environment. This posed a problem with visitor comfort. Was Magna to be a coats on or coats off experience? To further inform the process Buro Happold undertook an environmental prediction of how the shed would moderate the environment and likely operating costs of walkway heating.

It was decided that, apart from in the pavilions, Magna would be a "coats on" experience. A pavilion temperature of 168C was set to ensure comfort for the transient occupancy. A sustainable natural ventilation policy was agreed, using the moderating influence of the shed itself in the summer. Comfort is maintained using a combination of opening panels forming air inlets and high level mechanical extracts only.

Visitors first view the futuristic pavilions from an elevated walkway. An irregular floor, at ground level, made up of fragmented "rusty" steel sheets that appear to fracture and move, indicates the presence of the Earth Pavilion. Situated below ground in the existing basement, the three zones evoke the reality of mines and quarries, with a maze of tunnels and section for interactivity and role-play. As well as visual effects, heavy machinery noises and vibrations add to the experience.

Ventilation within this confined space is via fan convectors concealed within the perimeter walls, keeping the floor clear for exhibits. High level extracts with variable speeds respond to the fluctuating levels of occupancy.

The Air Pavilion, suspended 12.5 metres above ground, appears like a cloud or an airship. The transparent envelope is constructed of inflated bags of ETFE foil. A wind tunnel entrance allows visitors to experience the force of air.

Fresh air delivered beneath steel walkways diffuses upwards to occupants. Air is removed at the arc ends of the airship by a large exposed extract fan.

The Water Pavilion, a curving stainless steel ground level structure, is entered over a glass floor with water underneath. Visitors are surrounded by displays showing all facets life and living in relation to water.

Recirculated water used in the pavilion posed a potential health issue. Visitors have direct contact with water, water jets and sprays forming mists. A stringent filtration and sterilisation system was necessary. A Buro Happold study revealed combining UV treatment and biocide reduced quantities of chemicals needed, whilst not compromising public safety.

Fresh air flows into the Water Pavilion via a concrete enclosed void beneath the pavilion, providing passive cooling of incoming air without resorting to mechanical cooling.

The suspended walkways through the steelworks pass around an original Arc Furnace. A light and sound show demonstrates steel making with spectacular effects.

The final pavilion is Fire, a huge black box enclosed with black steel cladding and mesh screens, spanning the entire width of the former steelworks. Lighting, visual images and an increase in temperature are used to tremendous effect, complementing the exhibits themselves. Ignited kerosene is whipped up into a swirling column of flame reaching to the roof of the pavilion creating a fire tornado.

This pavilion is heated via fan convectors located within the walls of the structure, which also provide the fresh air inlet into the space. Variable speed extract fans mounted at high level maintain the air quality and room temperature.

Converting Templeborough Steelworks into a modern landmark attraction was not an easy task. Magna has retained, as far as possible, existing gantries, crane rails, hoppers and other steel structures, incorporating them into the design. This posed some health and safety risks and the project benefited from close liaison with the Planning Supervisor.

Existing electrical services provided some interesting challenges. The site had a large number of HV/LV transformers, some still live, part of the Corus network. The transformers supply neighbouring industrial plants, the oil filtration plant (removing oil from water abstracted from the river), the network of sump pumps and offices. Buro Happold worked closely with Corus and Yorkshire Electricity engineers to enable what amounted to a major mains reorganisation process, procured early as an enabling works contract.

It was decided to split the electrical service design into three phases, "enabling", "base build" and "fit out", allowing the exhibition design team time to develop ideas during base build services installation.

The electrical services infrastructure designed for the base build scheme incorporated base networks for power supplies, lighting and emergency lighting, intruder detection, CCTV, IT cabling and mechanical services supplies. Two new sub stations provide the main entrance area and future restaurant space and the four pavilions with exhibition lighting and power requirements.

The exhibit pavilions were initially treated as "black boxes" in the base build contract with power supplies terminated at the perimeter of each area. The Air Pavilion, however, posed specific challenges, as it incorporates all services within the building structure. Mechanical and electrical services are integrated, with structural beams including heating convectors within the walkway structure. Cables and lighting track were integrated into the curved extended frame of the pavilion envelope for maximum effect.

For electronic systems such as fire alarms and intruder alarms, the building was split into three zones so that control panels could allow field wiring to be localised. The panels are linked via communications cabling to each other and to the host computers in a central area.

Exhibit lighting was designed in conjunction with Jonathon Spier. Most exhibits are illuminated by dimmed tungsten lighting interfaced with the audiovisual system to achieve constantly variable lighting which changes in sympathy with the sound effects. The lighting is controlled via an intelligent dimming and switching system, linked by a data/communication cable back to a central processor. This system allowed flexibility and control to produce dramatic lighting effects, complementing the realistic scenarios produced in each pavilion.

The emergency lighting systems have a central monitoring and testing facility. To minimise maintenance and upkeep, each emergency luminaire has a unique address allowing problems such as lamp failure to be easily identified.

Buro Happold was M&E designer for the exhibition fit-out. As each exhibit was purpose made, accurate information regarding services and power was not initially available. Improving the accuracy of early power estimates required the full co-operation of the exhibit contractors.

The only mechanical cooling of Magna is in the exhibit control rooms. As a bonus, waste heat from these rooms is utilised in the winter to warm incoming fresh air to some of the exhibit areas, reducing running costs for the client.

The Magna concept was made possible through close liaison between FEDRA (Buro Happold Fire Engineers) and the Local Authority Building Control. There is no prescription to this type of building, so Buro Happold Fire Engineers undertook sophisticated computational simulations of smoke flows, escape routes, fire compartments, rate of development of fire, reaction and escape times.

Converting an industrial dinosaur such as the Templeborough Steelworks was a massive undertaking, an ultimate in brown site development which will surely lead the way in the regeneration of abandoned industrial premises.

Further information and illustrations are available from: Sarah Johnstone. Tel: +44 (0)1225 320 627; E-mail: Sarah.Johnstone@burohappold.com