Techniquest is the UK’s longest established science centre. Founded in 1986, by Professor John Beetlestone and his colleagues from Cardiff University, its first site was the gas showroom opposite Cardiff Castle. In 1988 it moved to a pre-fabricated industrial building in Cardiff Bay, with 100 exhibits; it was here that it launched its education programmes for schools. In 1995 it moved to its curre
nt site, the UK’s first purpose-built science centre, in Cardiff Bay. The building was formerly a heavy engineering plant; Paul Koralek of ABK Architects designed Techniquest around the framework of the original building. TECHNIQUEST TODAY
Techniquest builds its own exhibits in its workshops in Cardiff. It is one of the leading commercial exhibit builders in the UK, selling exhibits and programmes to science centres around the world. This commercial activity is an essential income stream for delivering Techniquest’s mission. Techniquest was the first science centre in the UK to have Governing Member status in the Association of Science and Technology Centres (ASTC).
