Site Manager Steve Burgess of John Turner & Sons, with stone to be recycled in MOSI
It may be located on the site of the world’s oldest surviving passenger railway station, but Manchester’s Museum of Science & Industry (MOSI) is laying down greener tracks in an environmentally sustainable £7million makeover.
This redevelopment of the main building will include new galleries, a restaurant, and conference facilities, while the old imposing ramp has been removed to give the building a more open entrance.
A key theme of recycled materials will be demonstrated in a trail running throughout the building. Visitors will be able to interact with the construction along the trail in a number of ways including looking into a lift core and understanding the use of recycled aggregate and steel, gazing at the reused concrete in the arch of the ‘barrel ceiling’, or finding their way around from signs made of old banknotes.
“People are increasingly aware of recycling of domestic waste but this trail will encourage good practice in recycling of building waste as well,” said MOSI Learning Manager Iain Morley. “Recycling is an important part of the ethos of MOSI’s redeveloped building and of the Museum itself.”
Local support has not been lacking, with Manchester City Council’s Carbon Innovation Fund contributing £10,000 to the trail as part of its drive to encourage low-carbon lifestyles throughout the city.
“MOSI does an excellent job of celebrating our city’s proud industrial past, and so it’s entirely appropriate that the centre should be used to showcase new environmentally friendly technologies, which will play an important role in our future,” said Councillor Nigel Murphy, Executive Member for the Environment.
“I’m sure visitors from all over the world will find the information about recycled materials just as inspirational as the museum’s other exhibitions.”
Due to open late 2010.
The collection at MOSI is a Designated collection.
