The refurbishment has hit fever pitch over the last fortnight, with a team of almost 200 construction workers and specialist sub-contractors working into the night to ensure that the building will be delivered on schedule.
The team have made astonishing progress in the Ground Floor, which has been a particular hive of activity over the last week. Construction work is largely complete in the shop, café and information area. Since the last update, flooring, lighting and mains power have also been installed in all of these areas. The fit out of the shop display furniture is nearing completion with only final works, such as the installation of a false ceiling, remaining. The café area is also progressing at a rapid pace, having been handed over to our catering fit out team, who are busy installing the servery and display furniture.
The entrance to the Museum has been completely overhauled as part of this project. The Main Entrance has been relocated to make access to our outstanding galleries and facilities much easier for our visitors. New folding entrance doors have been installed and are being tested. In our brand new entrance foyer, construction work is again nearing completion, and the area is in the process of being transferred to the respective fit out teams. New flooring has been laid, lighting and electrics are being worked on and a new information desk is being installed at this very moment!
These areas of the Ground Floor will be the first areas of the new building that the public will have the opportunity to view. Excitingly, this could be much sooner than you would imagine.
Due to the allocation of most of the teams’ resources towards the ground floor, work on the other floors has been limited. On the Second Floor, the Education suite has been fully decorated with furniture has been fitted in the classrooms, whilst good progress has been made in the conference suite, which has also been fully decorated, with glazing and lighting installed. There are just some final works remaining on the flooring and final glazing of the atrium areas.
Work on the First floor has been limited. Flooring has been installed in the restaurant area, and this will shortly be undergoing a full fit out by catering contractors, who are currently hard at work installed our new kitchen.
Finally, the first area to reach practical completion has been the basement toilet area, which is now practically complete and has been handed back to MOSI by the building team for cleaning.
Progress updates will be coming thick and fast over the coming weeks, so please check back regularly. Don’t forget to add your comments. We are eager to hear from you and we want your thoughts on what you’ve seen so far, and what your hopes are for the new building.
For our massive latest photographic update from inside the building, visit our photobucket site.
MOSI’s smart new shop has an expanded range of unusual gifts, educational games, books, models and toys. Too stressed by high street shopping? The relaxed environment of the beautifully-designed new Museum shop gives you time and space to find the right gift. From model aeroplanes and science kits, to history books, recycled glassware and quirky fridge magnets, there's something for everyone. On the way out you can drop into one of your favourite galleries and learn something about Manchester's fascinating history too! 
The new café serves up freshly brewed coffee and a range of tasty cakes, hot drinks, sandwiches and snacks. Its lofty ceiling is a reminder that this was once part of a vast railway warehouse, and floor-to-ceiling windows allow the light to flood in. The funky new café design includes a desk inspired by the industrial steel girders seen throughout the Museum site. Relax in the comfy armchairs and people-watch in historic Castlefield.
We've already had our first corporate clients and first wedding in MOSI's plush new conference centre, which opened at the weekend! In the dedicated conference space delegates can use one of four new meeting rooms, seating between 14 and 40 people in a variety of layouts, including theatre, boardroom, u-shape and cabaret. There will also be a state-of-the-art function room which can be adapted to accommodate a wide variety of group sizes, from 50 to 350, in theatre, reception, banquet or cabaret style. The room can be used for dinner dances and can seat up to 200. When the new Revolution Manchester gallery is complete in December this will also be available for corporate hire (upto 200 people for dinner). 
