Building of the Year 2025 Shortlist: Power Hall
All the senses are engaged while exploring this free, living gallery that showcases a unique collection of historic 19th and early 20th century working engines, now powered by 21st century, carbon-neutral infrastructure.
Stepping back inside Power Hall, visitors can rediscover iconic engines that powered everything from cotton mills to chip shops, electricity generators to railways. These include Pender, a steam locomotive used to transport holiday makers around the Isle of Man in the 1870s, which offers a unique view into its inner workings through its cut away side. The Durn Mill steam engine is also up and running. Originally used to power weaving machinery at an 1800s mill near Rochdale, engines such as this dramatically increased production and profits, which in turn increased exploitation both locally and globally. Returning visitors will also be pleased to see a replica of the Planet steam locomotive, built by skilled volunteers inside Power Hall in 1992. The original Planet pulled passengers between Liverpool and Manchester from 1830 to 1840 and was the next iteration of steam locomotive after Stephenson's famous prototype, Rocket.
There are also a wealth of new stories on display that focus on the people who have powered our lives both past and present. Whether it's one of the first women to have a full career as an electrical engineer, or a woman forced to pick cotton on American plantations that was supplied to Manchester's mills, or a present-day designer of wind turbines, or a control systems engineer who uses 'digital twins' to improve real-world industrial processes, Power Hall showcases the people whose skills and determination have shaped our relationship with energy, from the Industrial Revolution to greener futures.
Brand new interactives are getting visitors' cogs turning as they build, pump, hammer and even crawl their way through a number of hands-on activities aimed at putting problem solving skills to the test. Creators of the future can experiment with motion, mechanics and building materials to discover what it takes to power industrial machines.
Power Hall is part of one of the biggest heritage restoration projects in the UK and exemplifies engineering in action. Live demonstrations of the working engines showcase the skills of the museum's expert team of technicians, explainers, conservationists and intergenerational volunteers, alongside budding engineers on T-level placements, who are working to preserve Manchester's heritage by ensuring past skills endure and future technical skills and careers develop. It is applying contemporary solutions to keep the locomotives and engines maintained for future generations.
The Science and Industry Museum has worked collaboratively with visitors and a range of diverse groups and partners to develop this multisensory gallery. They have helped to test ideas, interpretation and interactive displays to ensure that the experience supports a variety of ages, interests and enthusiasms. The new interpretation and activities bring to life the stories of these incredible engines in ways that represent and resonate with our lives today.
Join us for the Property and Construction Dinner on 5th March 2026 where we will be announcing the winner!
