Magna Science Adventure Centre

150 foot high and a third of a mile long, the £46m Lottery funded Millennium Commission project, Magna is the UK’s first Science Adventure Centre.

Inside the building, the Magna experience is divided into six parts - Four architecturally stunning and gadget-packed pavilions and two multimedia shows. The pavilions are themed around the four elements.

Earth is an enormous underground cave, reached by low winding tunnels and alleys, the Air pavilion is a 50 foot long ‘zeppelin’ ominously suspended 100 foot overhead, the Water attractions are housed within a gigantic, elegant steel wave and the Fire pavilion is a charred, darkened area surrounded by lightning storms and walls of fire.

Linked by suspended walkways, scissor lifts, stairs and tunnels, each of the pavilions are jam-packed with challenges and games relating to the elemental themes. Race to move rocks with a JCB or explode a rock face in Earth and target giant water canons in Water.

In Air you can spin on the gyroscopic chair and in Fire you can watch an awe-inspiring 5-metre high fire tornado – these are to name but a few.

The two Multimedia shows are a testament to the spiritual roots of the building. Formerly the famous Templeborough Steelworks, the cavernous shed was once the
workplace of 10,000 steelworkers and the recipient of a telegram from PM Jim Callaghan for its services to the industry. These shows bring to life the sounds, sights and intense atmosphere that earned Templeborough the nickname – ‘The Anvil of South Yorkshire’.

The first show is ‘The Face Of Steel’ a 100 foot high floor-to-ceiling 3-D collection of projected film and imagery, this is the largest multi-media display in the UK. Climb amongst the screens and sounds to reach the main walkway and access to the pavilions within heart of the building.

The second show – ‘The Big Melt’ is undoubtedly one of Magna’s most breathtaking features. Heard and seen from almost every part of the building, the show is set around the original Arc furnace, unused since the days of Sheffield’s booming steel industry. In a pyrotechnic and audio display powerful enough to shake everything underfoot and overhead, the steel making process is perfectly re-created (except for the absence of thousands of tons of molten steel of course and the melting temperatures!).

Additional info

Please visit our website at www.visitmagna.co.uk for up to date lists of special events and temporary exibitions. Corporate hire is also avalable, information on request.