TRUSTEES and staff are starting the one-year countdown on Wednesday (September 16) to the opening of the ‘Brunel Institute – conservation and learning centre’ in 2010.
The ‘Brunel Institute’ will form a lasting and inspirational legacy to Britain’s greatest engineer.
The announcement follows the 150th anniversary, on September 15, of the death of the great engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel, when the ss Great Britain and Clifton Suspension Bridge mark the anniversary by switching off their lights for 15 minutes – one minute for each decade.
As well as bringing Brunel artefacts and maritime collections under one roof for the first time ever, the centre will provide inspirational educational programmes.
There will be a free world-class historic maritime library, which will be accessible to all, with views on to the ss Great Britain’s stern.
The ‘Future Brunels’ programme will help inspire teenagers to pursue careers in science and
engineering, whilst ‘Sea Hear’ will offer storytelling sessions for pre-school children. There will also be an educational outreach project.
Educational programmes will be in addition to the 16,000 infant and primary school children
who visit or take workshops every year at Brunel’s ss Great Britain.
Build work, being undertaken by Linden Homes Western, is already at an advanced phase for the £30 million Great Western Dockyard development encompassing the Brunel Institute and apartments on the higher floors.
Linden Homes, which is working in close partnership with the ss Great Britain Trust and is sponsor of the ‘Brunel Institute Founders’ Campaign’, will recreate the shell of the original building designed by Brunel as the ‘Steamship Engine Works’ and destroyed in World War 2.
The ss Great Britain Trust’s fundraising team has a £6 million target for the Brunel Institute fit out and programme costs. Funders include the Heritage Lottery Fund, Viridor Credits Environmental Company, Lloyd’s Register Educational Trust, Medlock Charitable Trust, Kirby Laing Foundation, Wolfson Foundation, and Foyle Foundation, Biffaward. Funding applications are being submitted to charitable trusts, corporates and individual donors.
Those involved in the ambitious project expect the Brunel Institute to provide a 21st century legacy to the great man, beyond his many 19th century engineering feats – from the ss Great Britain to the Great Western Railway [see Notes to Editors 3].
Director of the ss Great Britain Trust Matthew Tanner MBE commented: “The progress this project is making is truly impressive, in terms of the build, programme development and funding for the Brunel Institute.
“Trustees and staff at the ss Great Britain Trust are delighted by the commitment demonstrated by partners, consultants and contractors, and the support provided by funders and partners, including the University of Bristol. However with just one year before the official opening of the Brunel Institute, much needs to be done and our targets are ambitious.”
Mr Tanner added: “We believe that the Brunel Institute will provide a 21st century legacy for the engineer who revolutionised Victorian society and who shaped our modern world. We hope the Brunel Institute will inspire others whatever their age, background or interest.”
Completion of the Brunel Institute follows the £11.3 million conservation and restoration
project which saw the museum and visitor attraction ‘re-launch’ in July 2005 as the multi award-winning Brunel’s ss Great Britain.
- Channel Five is airing ‘Big, Bigger, Biggest’ on ocean liners, including the ss Great Britain, at 8pm on September 15.
- To support the ‘Brunel Institute – conservation and learning centre’ please call 0117 926 0680 or email fundraising@ssgreatbritain.org.
For further information, pictures or interviews please call the ss Great Britain Trust’s Head of Marketing & Communications Dagmar Smeed on 0117 926 0680 ext 219. Journalists can receive up-to-date news alerts by registering on-line.