Audio Trails were chosen to design and build a permanent exhibition (with a twist) that welcomes visitors to Magna Science Adventure Centre in Rotherham.
Magna is an exciting journey into the world of steelmaking. The Templeborough steelworks (as it was called) was once the largest electric melting shop in the world and the site’s industrial history stretches back to Roman times. ‘Steel, Peech and Tozer’ was the company, but everyone called it ‘Steelos’.
Previously the concrete bunker through which visitors first entered Magna was dark and uninspiring. With funding secured through the Heritage Lottery Fund, Magna were able to commission Audio Trails to turn this dour space into a vibrant exhibition that reveals the 2000 year history of steelmaking on this site.
The interpretation panels provide a timeline and insight into the people that worked here. You can listen to their stories and read more about the site’s history on two touchscreens embedded in the reverse of the curved map wall, which depicts how the site has grown over the years. A projector plays footage of the Steelworks from its heyday.
The Steelos Gallery can also be completely stripped from the room in two hours, allowing corporate events, raves and other revenue making activities to utilise the room, without causing damage to the exhibition. Our innovative design allows the panels and curved wall to be unclipped and wheeled away. However, a flavour of the Works is always present in the shape of a hearth door and wall mural.
“From the outset the project ran smoothly with good two way communications between Magna and the design team. Audio Trails were quick to get to grips with the core aims and then pulled together all the threads for a great final design. Delivered on time and on budget. We would happily use Audio trails for future projects.”
Stuart Ballard, Education and Fundraising Director, Magna
The Steelos Gallery was our first full foray into exhibition design, and we are very proud of the results. If you’d like to know more about the project please get in touch.
For this project we ably assisted by a great team of associates: Heritage Interactive, Hammer Design and The Mural Artists.