Architectural, construction, engineering and inspection services

Tender description

The Science Museum Group is seeking to appoint a lead designer for the Wonderlab gallery project. The overall aim of the Wonderlab project is to deliver a world-leading, engineering-focussed interactive gallery that engages our audiences with engineering and the railways through experience, interactivity and play. Wonderlab will offer a unique, hands-on and immersive opportunity to design, create and test solutions — just like real engineers. Wonderlab will be awe-inspiring, designed to appeal to 7-14 years old no matter their background, access requirements or level of knowledge. The Science Museum Group is seeking to appoint a lead designer for the Wonderlab gallery project. Change and innovation in the railways has never been more visible or more important. The UK rail economy is at a watershed moment, with the biggest investment programme in the railways since Victorian times. Yet the country currently has an annual shortfall of 20 000 engineers and scientists and it’s predicted that we’ll need 1 800 000 new engineers and technicians by 2025. The overall aim of the Wonderlab project is to deliver a world-leading, engineering-focussed interactive gallery that engages our audiences with engineering and the railways through experience, interactivity and play. Wonderlab will position the National Railway Museum as the world-leader in inspiring young people to engage with engineering and is a critical part of the National Railway Museum’s transformative masterplan — Vision 2025 — which will re-position the museum: as a world-class centre of innovation and inspiration; a celebration of the global significance of the railways; a vibrant centre of learning and ideas-exchange and, an essential part of its community. Wonderlab will offer a unique, hands-on and immersive opportunity to design, create and test solutions – just like real engineers. Wonderlab will be awe-inspiring, designed to appeal to 7-14 years old no matter their background, access requirements or level of knowledge. Inspired by the existing features of the current engineering workshop, Wonderlab will adapt and develop this aesthetic into a welcoming, inspiring and sophisticated space that can support a well-paced visitor journey. Visitors to Wonderlab will encounter powerful and memorable experiences that encourage them to ‘think like an engineer’, they will develop new skills, deepen their understanding, be challenged in their perceptions and grow in confidence to talk about engineering and its relationship to the railways.