First Light Pavilion Visitor’s Centre

Jodrell Bank in the north of England has over 50 years of intergalactic stories to reveal. 

As the world’s oldest existing radio astronomy observatory and site of some of the most groundbreaking intergalactic discoveries since the dawn of the Space Age, the First Light Pavilion at Jodrell Bank brings these stories to life for everyone from the most dedicated intergalactic enthusiasts to the more casual stargazers.

At the centre of the regeneration of Jodrell Bank, First Light Pavilion was designed as a grassy mound rising from the landscape – an engineering feat in its own right and a perfect platform for the amateur astronomer.

Inside the hill, visitors can immerse themselves in Jodrell Bank’s past discoveries and learn more about the Lovell Telescope, one of the world’s largest and most powerful telescopes. We worked closely with exhibition designers Casson Mann on the circular exhibition space and auditorium to celebrate the feats of the amazing scientists and engineers who have changed how we see the universe.

The pavilion has a rich cultural history and today provides an accessible educational experience for the community, regularly hosting exhibitions, film screenings, educational lectures and special events.

In 2021, the Jodrell Bank Observatory was formally recognised by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.

Client

University of Manchester

Location

Macclesfield, UK

Status

Completed

Year

2022

Sustainability Ratings

BREEAM Very Good (achieved)

Collaborators

Casson Mann

Design team

Julian Gitsham, Gary Collins, Adam Atraktzi, Oliver Kampshoff, Sarah Willats, Clive Lewis, Kaja Swiezewska, Trang Dao, David Brown

Photography

Hufton and Crow

“The result is something really special and unique – there is nothing like it anywhere in the world – and it will stand at Jodrell Bank for generations to come, offering people of all ages a chance to be inspired by our place in the Universe.”

Professor Teresa Anderson, Director of Jodrell Bank Discovery Centre at the University of Manchester

- 64th annual Civic Trust Awards

- 2021 North West Regional Construction Awards (Innovation Award)

Topics
Related

News

First Light Pavilion wins at 2023 Civic Trust Awards

Our design for the First Light Pavilion, an immersive new visitor centre at the world-famous Jodrell Bank Observatory in the UK, took top honours at the 64th annual Civic Trust Awards held in London.

Conversations

Cultural chemistry on campus? It’s art + science.

How can a festival that defies categorisation show universities a way of bringing specialist disciplines together to solve the world’s biggest problems? Hear from bluedot’s Professor Tim O’Brien and Professor Teresa Anderson in this episode of Hassell Talks.

News

Explore astronomy at Jodrell Bank’s First Light Pavilion in Cheshire

Wallpaper

MEDIA

Manchester observatory to unveil £21m visitor experience

Planet Attraction

MEDIA

A new £21.5m interactive visitor attraction is opening at Jodrell Bank this summer

The Manc

News July 22, 2019

Jodrell Bank Observatory gains UNESCO World Heritage status

The site includes the Square Kilometre Array (SKO) Global Headquarters and work-in-progress First Light Pavilion project, both designed by Hassell.

NEWS

First Light Pavilion brings space exploration to life

Work has begun on site at First Light Pavilion, designed by Hassell. The project, for the University of Manchester, is set to be complete in 2021. 

MEDIA

Hassell reveals plans for ​‘first light pavilion’ at jodrell bank observatory

designboom

News July 27, 2019

Hassell signs Architects Declare

Design practices have declared a climate and biodiversity emergency and committed to respond with action.

Conversations

The power of speculative design

Designers have a unique type of agency in the face of global challenges.

instagram

University of Manchester's First Light Pavilion Visitor's Centre, UK, will bring people closer to science and astronomy, opening up a world of possibilities for both stargazers and the next generation of aspiring scientists. #astronomy #stars #science #design #UK #Manchester

University of Manchester's First Light Pavilion Visitor's Centre, UK, will bring people closer to science and astronomy, opening up a world of possib…

Conversations

Connecting pandas, people and nature

How master planning can support biodiversity by designing for ​‘umbrella species’.

MEDIA

Huge concrete roof unveiled at Jodrell Bank First Light Pavilion

Knutsford Guardian

Projects

NASA 3D Printed Habitat Challenge

Tokyo Railyards Redevelopment

WA Museum Boola Bardip

University of Brighton Advanced Engineering Centre

Brighton Business School

First Light Pavilion was designed to seamlessly integrate into the natural landscape and impact the UNESCO heritage-listed site as minimally as possible. 

Highlights include:

  • Non-standard construction techniques enhance the Pavilion’s thermal and energy efficiency.
  • There was a strong drive to minimise materiality in developing the concrete dome, which was designed and ­­— in collaboration with structural engineering company Atelier One, the University of Nottingham and the University of Leeds — structurally engineered to be as thin as possible.
  • To minimise disruption to the site’s existing ecology, the topsoil that was stripped off the site during construction was tested and stored on the neighbouring property and reinstated onsite at the end of construction, covering the roof dome as the growing medium for the green roof.
  • Located on a wet site with a very high water table, the Pavilion’s water run-off is fully managed and distributed to a newly created attenuation pond, which then links to a series of existing ponds that run through the site.
  • Original materials have been reused in the First Light Pavilion. Sections of the first 1957 observation dish from the Lovell Telescope were integrated by our collaborators and exhibition designers Casson Mann to form part of the backdrop and projection surfaces in the exhibition.

This site uses cookies to offer you a better browsing experience. Find out more.

I Accept