Set on the banks of the River Lee, 'Lifetime Lab' has been created by design and communications company Imagination Ltd. Built on the old Waterworks site, which Cork City Council decided to restore and revitalise, the campus facilities include: a schools resource centre, information centre, conference suites, an interactive visitor exhibition and a future adventure playground. Following a procurement process Imagination was invited by Cork City Council to participate in a multi disciplinary project, which was led by PM (Project Management Ltd). Imagination was appointed in May 2004 to design and develop the content for this unique and visionary exhibition space. The exhibition, which is primarily aimed at children 7-10 years old was developed by Imagination in collaboration with a team of researchers, engineers and environmental scientists at Cork City Council as well as lecturers at University College Cork.
The interactive exhibition features four key sections of water, energy, natural environment and human environment. Each themed section has a hands-on, interactive and experiential environment that inspires visitors - of every age - to understand the issues surrounding sustainability. A 'resolution wall' at the end of the exhibition features postcards for visitors to write down their 'lifetime resolutions' for the future.
Ursula Morrish, Imagination's account director on the project, said: "At the heart of the brief was the challenge to create a unique and visionary destination, using the heritage of Cork City Waterworks as a gateway to demonstrate to all, Cork's vision of a world of sustainability and sustainable living. We needed to bring to life to the proposition of sustainability, and to create an entertaining, informative and interactive experience that was suitable for all visitors and, in particular, appealing to children."
(Lee Baldock)
