Perfect Circle consortium begins work on 'reality lab' for UK's National Space Centre
by Andy Knaggs | 31 Jul 2019
– Kevin Harris
The UK's National Space Centre (NSC) in Leicester is building a new laboratory for the creation of virtual, augmented and mixed reality media, which it says will extend its capacity to deliver community engagement and attract new audiences.
Perfect Circle – a consortium comprising Pick Everard, Gleeds and AECOM – is responsible for design, surveying and project management, while Woodhead has the construction contract.
The Extended Reality Laboratory (or XR Lab) has been funded by the Inspiring Science Fund – a partnership between the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy, UK Research & Innovation, and Wellcome.
Support has also been awarded by the Local Growth Fund from Leicester and Leicestershire Enterprise Partnership (LLEP), the Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851 and The Garfield Weston Foundation.
The lab, which is due to open by the end of 2019, will house workstations and a stereoscopic test dome. It will be the base of the new NSC Creative Academy, giving young people the opportunity to work with industry experts to further their scientific interest, either recreationally or as part of their formal studies. Fulldome storytelling studio NSC Creative, which has produced shows that are currently showing in 660 theatres across 70 countries, will also use the XR Lab facility.
The National Space Centre's community engagement programme includes visitors from schools and further education, as well as industry and communities local to Leicester. It said it intends engaging with around 3,600 socio-economically disadvantaged young people from Leicester, of whom 50 per cent will be female, to ensure its programmes and workshops are available to visitors from all backgrounds.
Kevin Harris, chair of the LLEP, commented: "Not only will this new facility be a great asset for students and young people, it will also open up space-related opportunities to communities within Leicester and Leicestershire."
National Space Centre Extended Reality Laboratory XR Lab Inspiring Science Fund Leicester and Leicestershire Enterprise Partnership
The XR Lab will be used to create virtual, augmented and mixed reality media Credit: National Space Centre
A range of 3D and 4D technology areas complete the XR Lab Credit: National Space Centre
06 Sep 2017
Inspiring Science Fund awards share of £13m to five UK science centres
01 Feb 2016
Government announces £30m fund for science centres
The UK's National Space Centre (NSC) in Leicester is building a new laboratory for the creation of virtual, augmented and mixed reality media, which it says will extend its capacity to deliver community engagement and attract new audiences. Perfect Circle – a consortium comprising Pick Everard, Gleeds and AECOM – is responsible for design, surveying and project management, while Woodhead has the construction contract. The Extended Reality Laboratory (or XR Lab)
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