The first-floor Role Play Area has been transformed into the Mini Metro Play Zone, thanks to generous support from Transport for Wales, Siemens Mobility and Balfour Beatty.
Designed for under-7s, the new zone features miniature train tracks, construction blocks and a train driver’s station, and aims to spark curious STEM minds to pursue roles in the rail engineering industry.
TfW’s Rail Infrastructure Director Karl Gilmore said: “We’ve been involved in building south Wales’ Metro system for six-and-a-half years; and in those years we’ve been trying not just to build the Metro, but to leave a legacy that we could be proud of.
“Over that time, quite a few of our projects have been focused on getting into schools, so when the opportunity came up to get involved in this project, we had to jump at it.
“By nature, we are incredibly curious, and all the amazing different jobs represented in the Mini Metro — from the drivers to the signallers to the infrastructure workers — will hopefully spark the curiosity of the children that visit.”
The Mini Metro project was overseen by Techniquest’s Creative Production Designer Georgia Hatton, who — with input from TfW, Siemens Mobility and Balfour Beatty — designed and built many of the items by hand.
On 8 October, the zone was officially opened, with representatives from each organisation in attendance to cut the ribbon and celebrate a project more than a year in the making.
Balfour Beatty Programme Director Alasdair MacDonald said: “We’re incredibly proud to have played a part in transforming this innovative space at Techniquest, which not only provides a fun and engaging environment for young children but also introduces them to the world of construction and infrastructure from an early age.
“By supporting projects like the Mini Metro Play Zone, we are able to give back to the communities in which we operate, spark curiosity and encourage young minds to explore the endless possibilities within science, technology, engineering and mathematics as well as the built environment.”
We would like to give special thanks to Karl Gilmore (TfW), Alasdair MacDonald (Balfour Beatty) and Jason Ellis (Siemens Mobility) for their ongoing support and drive to providing fun STEM opportunities for our youngest visitors.
Techniquest CEO Sue Wardle said: “Foundations in STEAM [science, technology, engineering, arts, mathematics] education begin in early childhood. By engaging children in multi-sensory, hands-on experiences, they start to develop the skills they need to pursue exciting, fulfilling careers.
“What I love most about this new space is that it doesn’t just focus on one area of learning — it encourages children to be creative, solve problems, and it shows them real-world examples of the kind of work being done in STEM careers.
“We are very, very grateful to Transport for Wales, Siemens Mobility and Balfour Beatty for their support and inspiration in making this space a reality.”
Now that the space is officially open to the public, we can’t wait to welcome our budding engineers on their visits to Techniquest!