IET Birmingham: Austin Court, part of IET Venues, has installed a series of permanent engineering exhibits which aims to celebrate objects and innovations from the West Midlands.
The conference and events venue has been redeveloped to showcase the engineers work.
This includes:
- X-ray scanner
- Pneumatic tyre
- Electric kettle
- Auto-changing record player
- Mass produced steel nib pens
- Celluloid
- First weather map
Visitors will have the opportunity to experience Austin Court’s two floors and 14 spaces, which aims to reflect the area’s engineering past and present.
Members of the venue will first see the Atrium glass which is covered with visuals of engineering and technology innovations. These visuals will have a connection to Birmingham and the West Midlands.
The exhibits will also have a welcome sculpture, which will be created from engineering objects installed in the reception area. Photographs and information of the ‘100 engineering ideas’ will line the walls of the venue’s communal stairwell.
The Lodge Rooms, which consists of three floors, will celebrate the contribution of female engineers and inventors. It will achieve this by displaying the history of women in engineering and their discoveries, alongside current female pioneers to inspire the next generation of women engineers.
The new exhibits are part of IET Venues investment into IET Birmingham: Austin Court. Earlier this year, the venue’s 150 seated Kingston Lecture Theatre received £450K for redevelopments and transformed the room into a live event space with new AV elements.
Akmal Shahzad, venue manager, IET Birmingham: Austin Court, said: “It’s really exciting to be launching these permanent exhibits, we are proud to celebrate the engineering impact the West Midlands has made on the UK and beyond; not to mention the thriving work female engineers are creating and the impact they are going to have on our future.
“It goes without saying we are very proud to exhibit these items. They really bring the venue to life and we cannot wait to hear the feedback from members and guests on the topics explored.”
