A design team has been appointed to deliver the £2 million refurbishment of Dundee Science Centre.
Aim Design, based in the city’s Camperdown Street, will provide a full range of architectural and exhibition design services to transform the ground floor of the visitor attraction as it approaches its 20th anniversary next year.
The firm will be supported by Christie & Co, Elders Consulting Engineers and David Narro Associates in delivering the work.
The CONNECT project will see the ground floor of the centre developed into a custom-built hub, with the coffee shop being replaced by a gathering space with improved scope for events, talks and workshops celebrating community work.
The redesign will also create a new welcome area, an exhibition space for children under seven years old, a sensory zone and a range of brand new interactive exhibits.
Works are due to commence in Spring 2020, with the project due to be officially unveiled to the public by March 2021.
Rebecca Duncan, head of development at Dundee Science Centre, hopes the redesign will strengthen the attraction’s position within the cultural fabric of the city.
She said: “We are delighted to have Aim Design’s team on board to take us through the design process involving our many audiences and partners, ensuring that our exhibits, environments and programmes reflect their needs, and make the centre a relevant and welcoming place to visit and enjoy.
“Aim’s team have a vast amount of experience in interactive exhibition design and we are really excited to embark on this innovative journey in their safe, experienced hands.”
Bosses have pledged the refurbishment will take into account the views of the local community, with a network of charities involved to represent people with learning, physical, complex, profound and multiple disabilities, autism, hearing and visual impairments, mental health and sensory challenges.
The appointment of the team comes after the centre’s £2.1 million Medical Marvels exhibition and Science Learning Suite being unveiled as a finalist in the exhibition category at the Scottish Design Awards.
Also led by Aim Design, the space was selected alongside three other finalists, with the winner due to be announced on August 22.
Aim Design director Ged Young said: “July has been a great month for the team at Aim Design. Our studio and Dundee Science Centre were notified that the upper floor has been shortlisted for a Scottish Design Award.
“This was quickly followed by the fantastic news of our successful bid to design the ground floor CONNECT project.
“We are delighted to continue our creative working relationship with Dundee Science Centre team and look forward to working together again to successfully deliver the next stage of the Centre’s development.”
