National Glass Centre

Client: National Glass Centre
Project Location:Sunderland, UK
Value: £800,000
Form of Tender: J.C.T Build

The National Glass Centre is a unique venue and a hub of activity inspired by glass.  Housing galleries, artists’ studios, glass production facilities, craft and design shop, café/ restaurant and function suites.  The National Glass Centre is located in an innovative glass and steel building on the banks of the River Wear in Sunderland.

The centre is close to the site of St. Peter's Church, part of the original Monkwearmouth-Jarrow Priory built in 674.  It was here that Benedict Biscop introduced glass making  into Britain, by hiring French glaziers to make the windows for the priory. The glass-making industry exploded in the eighteenth century, driven by an abundance of cheap coal and high-quality imported sand. Sunderland glass became famous throughout the country.

At the heart of the centre is a museum dedicated to the history of glass-making, with numerous exhibitions and galleries. Members of the Idess Team were responsible for the interior fit out of the Museum

Services provided included ●  Construction and Interior fit out of the museum ●   Lighting ●  Electrics ● Graphics ● Interactives  ● Specialist Glass Displays