Magna Science Adventure Centre

Magna Science Adventure Centre stands on the site of a former steel mill in Rotherham, South Yorkshire. The steelworks once belonged to Steel, Peech and Tozer and closed in 1993. Before the steelworks, a Roman fort occupied the same ground in 50 AD. The centre is served by Magna station on the South Yorkshire Supertram network. Four pavilions—Earth, Air, Fire, and Water—form the main exhibits across the site. The centre is worth the journey because its design team won the 2001 RIBA Stirling Prize. Stephen Feber led the project, with architects WilkinsonEyre and exhibition designers Event Communications. Their work earned the Best Exhibition award at the 2002 Design Week Awards. The site also won the Enjoy England Gold Award for Business Tourism in 2006. Visitors find an outdoor Sci-Tek play area and an Aqua-Tek water play area. Every hour, the ‘Big Melt’ show recreates the steelmaking process with fog, sparks, flames, and loudspeakers. The centre hosts the annual Rotherham Real Ale and Music Festival, raising money for local charities. The nearby Templeborough Roman Settlement adds a historical layer to the visit.