Creation of a new entrance and ticketing building to improve the visitor arrival experience

National Space Centre

Our team working in line with the client’s brief for a more exciting first encounter for visitors when they cross the threshold into the building, as well as aiding more efficient orientation, queuing and exiting. The extension needed to improve wayfinding and provide improved access at the very start of the visitor journey, creating a modern, efficient and logical ticketing system.

The most important testimony to the impact of the new entrance building has come from our visitors. In that sense, it has achieved all objectives: an exciting sense of arrival, a highly efficient ticket sales facility and a new Welcome Hall display space in which to enjoy some magnificent new exhibits. Pick Everard has designed a building that complements the iconic Rocket Tower beautifully.

Chas Bishop

Chief executive at the National Space Centre

The Launch Pad was conceived as a 178 m2 wrap-around extension at the base of the National Space Centre’s rocket tower. The space was to comprise a new main entrance and ticketing facility.

The new entrance was to be the visitor’s first encounter with the National Space Centre and, as such, the materials and construction methods selected needed to provide the best possible quality within the available budget.

The spatial context of the work was challenging as the extension was located in a tight space between the iconic rocket tower, exhibition hall and educational suite.

Engagement with the client's commercial team saw the design mould to the dream visitor experience, walking through space shuttle doors into a galaxy of stars adorning the walls through graphics and vented cladding, taking visitors on a journey into space before they have even purchased tickets.

We worked with the estates team to ensure designs were manageable and maintainable during limited closure periods available due to large numbers of visitors, both during the day and into the evening with their corporate and hospitality contracts.

Internal vented cladding was designed to accommodate removal in sections to access hidden heating works, enabling servicing to be carried out in sections, as well as inclusion of roof access points in staff only areas to enable access during opening hours.