Innovative pavilion plan for the heart of Expo Sunderland
Plans for a towering ‘pavilion’ structure and exhibition space in the heart of Sunderland city centre have been submitted to council development chiefs.
Sunderland City Council’s planning department has received an application for a new focal point at Keel Square featuring a giant screen.
The ‘Sunderland Pavilion’ is described as a contemporary exhibition and immersive space and centrepiece for
Expo Sunderland, a series of events celebrating “innovation and ambition” in the city taking place up to 2026.
A design and access statement submitted with the plans states the structure would “explore the evolving notion of the future home beyond 2030”.
Plans submitted by the city council’s regeneration company Siglion aim to replace the large digital screen at Keel Square with a new temporary transparent structure set in a metal frame.
The pavilion would be open to visitors in the summer, hosting exhibitions and showcasing local talent and innovation, along with a viewing platform to allow people to watch the city’s new
Culture House take shape, and areas for large installations and displays.
Developed by Sunderland City Council, the upper deck of the building would feature a 10m x 5m screen, with two 5m x 5m screen ‘wings’.
The screen aims to inspire with a range of visual displays, with some appearing 3D due to the translucent material the screen is made from, as well as having the capability to live stream content from around the world.
An audio system would also be integrated with the screen, “enriching the visitor experience with immersive soundscapes”.
The project has been supported with funding from the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology 5G Innovation Regions Grant.
Councillor Kevin Johnston, cabinet member for Dynamic City, said Sunderland Pavilion represents an opportunity to engage residents and visitors in a new and exciting way.
He said: “We want to showcase pioneering innovative concepts for the future home in Sunderland in a building that pushes boundaries and sparks imagination.
“This fits brilliantly into our plans for Expo, which will bring many thousands of people to our transforming Riverside Sunderland.”