The National Space Centre is a visitor attraction, educational facility and research centre dedicated to the subject of space science. The building boasts fantastic, ultra modern architecture which some might say is almost space age itself! The facility opened in June 2001 after several years of planning, supported by lottery funding from the Millennium Commission.

The National Space Centre was designed by Nicholas Grimshaw and Partners of London. They won the right to design the Landmark Building after a competitive process involving five firms in 1996. The process of choosing a design to submit within the bid to the Millennium Commission involved the Leicester public, with consultation days and community meetings held to gauge public opinion.

It's main feature is the 42 metre high "Rocket Tower", which dominates the local skyline. The semi-transparent tower, which is clad in high-tech ETFE "pillows" manufactured by specialist suppliers, was designed specially to house the attraction's largest artefacts, including huge rockets. The tower has been designed in such a way that the side of the tower may be partly detached again in the future to allow easier access during replenishment of large exhibits.

Fast Facts

• The rest of the Space Centre's visitor experience, its planetarium and space research centre are housed within the main body of the building, which is built partially below ground level within the walls of the old storm water tanks.
  
• The National Space Centre has been built on a 14.5 acre brownfield site - regenerating derelict land.
  
• The site previously housed a sewage treatment works, and was donated to the Space Centre project by Severn Trent Water. A council tip was also formerly operational on part of the Space Centre site.
  
• The construction of the site got through a lot of building materials, including around 5,500 cubic metres of concrete alone!
  
• Since opening in June 2001, the Space Centre has taken more than 40,000 school children through its doors.
  
• The National Space Centre has 250 artefacts on display, worth at least £11m in combined value!