The First Light Pavilion, our immersive new visitor centre at Jodrell Bank Observatory, took top honours at the 64th annual Civic Trust Awards.

Casson Mann's world class exhibition is housed in a new building designed by architects Hassell Studio. Conceived together, the exhibition and pavilion have been designed as one holistic presentation of the inspiring, human story of this pioneering observatory, home to the Lovell Telescope, the largest steerable radio telescope of its time and an icon of science and engineering. We're delighted to see this integrated creative relationship recognised by the judges.

“A wonderful project ambitiously created and beautifully delivered. It manages to complement the mighty and instantly recognisable landmark of the Lovell Telescope and offer a scientific experience accessible to all.”

2023 Civic Trust Awards Judges

‍

‍

‍

Immersing visitors within a panoramic array of the Lovell Telescope’s original curved steel panels, our exhibition uses object displays, interactive exhibits, projection mapped media and AVs to created a self-directed journey in which each visitor’s experience will be unique to them.

Working with Jodrell Bank prior to the telescope’s refurbishment, Casson Mann saw an opportunity to save and repurpose parts of this original 1957 dish as the fabric of the exhibition: at over 4-metres high, the heavily patinated panels now become the projection surface which maps both the earthly histories of pioneering Jodrell scientists and the cosmic sphere which they revealed to humankind.

‍