Event to revive former steelworks

London museum and exhibition specialist Event Communications is breathing life into a former Yorkshire steelworks which is being converted into a £37m science adventure centre by architect Wilkinson Eyre.

Event is designing four interactive pods around the elements fuelling the steel process, and all internal graphics. Called Magna, the project is funded by the Millennium Commission and an EC grant. It will be managed by the Magna Trust charitable foundation. The earth, water, fire and air pavilions will be linked by Event-designed walkways and lifts on different levels in the giant hall. The individual pods will feature multimedia simulations of each element, including a furnace, genuine 15 000-volt lightning strikes, a tornado and a rainstorm.

According to a spokeswoman at Event, the “experience” is hands-on. “Visitors will be splashed with raindrops, blasted with air jets and can touch rock formations. The pavilions are an allegorical interpretation of steel and each has a strong visual language. We aim to ensure the building itself plays a key role at the attraction,” she says.

Manchester advertising agency BJL has created the identity for Magna, and Sheffield design consultancy Fowler Associates is designing all external way-finding signage. The Templeborough steelworks closed in 1993.