What a week! We were thrilled to re-open our doors to our visitors over the weekend (Saturday 14th November) and to introduce our brand-new Science Capital project to the public for the very first time.
To radically transform our science and discovery centre and diversify our audience, the Science Capital project consists of a significant extension, expanding the floor space by 60% and introducing 52 brand-new exhibits.
The project has been the biggest in nearly 34 years of Techniquest’s existence and promises a whole new experience for visitors of all ages. But don’t take our word for it…
One of our Annual Pass holders said:
“The Hurricane is my favourite exhibit, but my favourite thing that I’ve done today was walking in and then seeing all of the new stuff at the entrance. It’s so exciting and cool!”
…and Mum said:
“It’s nice to be able to come in and see the more grown-up exhibits, more techy things I suppose, but you’ve still got the family favourites that the kids have grown up with.
“I quite like the Cloud Rings, and the Virtual Operating Table. I like ‘Show Me a Sign’ downstairs because we took the kids to sign when they were babies, so it was nice; me and my husband had a competition to see what we could remember… and I lost! It was really good, it was nice to see the kids trying to remember what they learned when they were toddlers.”
Visitors who pre-booked their tickets with us for opening weekend were some of the first to experience a whole range of custom-made, innovative exhibits — including an earthquake simulator, virtual operating table and a remote operated vehicle (ROV). All exhibits within Techniquest span across five key themes — biomedical science, environment, world issues, chemistry and space.
Our Head of Projects, James Summers commented;
“Our earthquake simulator and virtual operating table are just a flavour of the fantastic new content you’ll find here at Techniquest.
“It has been an aim of ours to change the perception of our centre and appeal to a wider demographic, and especially to an older audience. We’re confident these fantastic new exhibits do just that — re-establishing us as a major player amongst science and discovery attractions in the UK.”
Lesley Kirkpatrick, CEO at Techniquest commented:
“We’re delighted at the reception and support we’ve received at our re-opening and launch. The Science Capital project brings a new lease of life into our centre and offers brand-new experiences for our visitors.
“Tickets are capped and pre-booking is essential for us to ensure the safety of our staff and visitors but I encourage everyone to come and explore the new experience — whether you’ve visited Techniquest before or whether it’s your first time- you won’t be disappointed.”
The re-opening date comes slightly later than planned, as the global outbreak of COVID-19 (Coronavirus) forced construction work to stop and for the centre to temporarily close. For this reason, those wanting to visit the brand-new Techniquest must pre-book their tickets online. Walk-ins will currently not be accepted to ensure visitors can enjoy the new Techniquest experience at a safe distance.