First look: Science and Industry Museum reveal new £5m special exhibitions gallery

Manchester’s Science and Industry Museum has revealed stunning footage and images of their brand new £5million special exhibitions gallery which has taken over the venue’s lower-ground floor of its Grade II listed New Warehouse. Combining grand industrial beauty with a sleek, modern and sustainable design, this new gallery transforms this area into an exhibition space, ready to host some of the world’s most engaging science experiences.

This new gallery reinvigorates an area of the museum with significant historical roots. Originally built in 1882 from brick, cast and wrought iron and sandstone, the New Warehouse lower ground floor was first used as a storage space for the Great Western Railway, designed to support the weight of large goods wagons which would regularly visit and drop off cargo. The refurbishment process has preserved and restored many of the New Warehouse’s iconic features, including its red-brick Victorian industrial architecture with blue brick detail, and steel and brick ‘jack arch’ ceilings. New additions to the venue also include a revamped and fully accessible outdoor courtyard area which offers a new view of the venue’s historic viaduct and its cast iron and sandstone pillars.

The 725 metre flexible gallery was designed by the award-winning architects Carmody Groarke and Manchester-based contractors HH Smith & Sons and is the latest addition to the venue’s long-term multi-million pound restoration plans designed to preserve these historic buildings and offer new spaces to play, learn and explore. Find out more by watching the video below – or visiting the Science and Industry Museum website.