New concept designs and visuals have been released for the Eureka! Mersey project – a £11.75m children's visitor attraction being developed in Liverpool, UK.

The science and discovery centre is being developed by Eureka! – the national children's museum – in partnership with Merseytravel, the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority and Wirral Council.

Designed by a team led by K2 Architects, the £11.75m science attraction is set to take over the existing Spaceport building at Seacombe ferry – which is currently operated by Merseytravel – and is expected to attract almost 200,000 visitors a year.

It will be the second Eureka!-branded attraction in the UK, following the original discovery centre in Halifax, Yorkshire.

Attractions within Eureka! Mersey will focus on children aged between six and 14 years old, with an additional area dedicated to the 0-5 years age group. Content and galleries will look to develop the technical and digital skills of children and teenagers.

Seddon Construction is main and the development team also includes Sutcliffe, Tace and Urban Green, with Walker Sime responsible for project management and Real Studios for exhibition design.

Eureka! said that funding for the 30,000sq ft (2,800sq m) Mersey development has now reached 95 per cent of the target – paving way for construction work to begin in 2021.

Funding has come from central Government’s Inspiring Science Fund, which provided £3m, as well as Wirral Council and the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, which contributed just over £7m. The remaining £575,000 is to be raised through grants and donations between now and the targeted 2022 opening date.

“We have been working hard during the current crisis to ensure the timeline for Eureka Mersey stays on track," said Eureka!’s chief executive Leigh-Anne Stradeski.

"The team at Eureka are determined that Eureka Mersey, alongside all the other exciting cultural attractions already in the area, will play a vital part in rebuilding the region’s visitor economy and future community resilience.”

Steve Rotheram, Metro Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, added: “Our fantastic museums are an integral part of our world-class visitor offer and Eureka Mersey will add something new and exciting. It’s great to see progress continuing on what will become a major attraction for people within our city region and from further afield.”

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