Aberdeen Science Centre has announced today (Thursday, July 26) that it will be moving to a temporary city centre location later this year for the duration of its major redevelopment project.
The popular visitor attraction has signed a lease with the Bon Accord Centre to take over 107 George Street, previously occupied by the Co-op, from November 2018 onwards while construction works are carried out at their current location on Constitution Street.
The news follows the announcement that the Centre has been awarded £4.7m to revitalize and transform. The redevelopment will see the existing Centre significantly increase its exhibition and corporate space, leading to the creation of an outstanding educational resource and visitor attraction for North Scotland.
Chief executive, Liz Hodge, said. “This is another exciting milestone for us as we move closer to our goal of redeveloping and transforming the centre in order to give the people of this area the first class facility they want and deserve. This has been a long help aspiration for us and it’s amazing to finally be taking this first step in our journey. “
“We would like to encourage as many people as possible to visit us in our temporary location and support us throughout this transition. It’s very much business as usual for us and we will continue to provide the exciting and interactive exhibits, shows and workshops that we’re renowned for. “
Manager of the Bon Accord Centre, Craig Stevenson, said “‘Bon Accord is delighted to be able to support Aberdeen Science Centre in finding a temporary location during their refurbishment works.’
‘Aberdeen Science Centre will be a real attraction for our customers and we very much look forward to working with them. Bon Accord is always looking for something new for our customers and the Aberdeen Science Centre offers a perfect opportunity to do this.’
The timeline for development sees the Science Centre move to the temporary location on 107 George Street in mid-November of this year, with a projected date of return to Constitution Street in Spring 2020.
Architects Halliday Fraser Munro were appointed earlier this year to take forward this ambitious project.
The redevelopment has been made possible by funding from The Inspiring Science Fund- a partnership between the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy ( BEIS) and Wellcome, Opportunity North East (ONE) and the Wood Foundation and Aberdeen City Council.