Robert Stephenson Centre
The Robert Stephenson Centre is an exceptional, historic environment offering unique office, conference and exhibition space for design, art and technology linked businesses. Based in central Newcastle upon Tyne in the North East of England, the Centre was established as an interactive, didactic and dynamic space that fosters innovation and connects the past, present and future of the North East’s international design innovation heritage.
The Centre is an innovative hub where creative, scientific and social ideas collide by hosting individuals and organisations at the forefront of new thinking around design and technology and the relationship between the two.
The Robert Stephenson Centre was once the workplace of the famed railway and locomotive engineer, Robert Stephenson and is the result of the development of the former Stephenson Works. George Stephenson and his son, Robert, led the industrial innovation era in the early 19th century from the North East and their pioneering breakthroughs were designed, developed and rolled out from their design offices and boiler/plate shop. The Rocket, designed and built by Robert Stephenson, was designed in their drawing office on the mezzanine level of the building. The Works is the only part of Robert Stephenson & Co, the first purpose built locomotive factory in the world, that remains intact.
At Robert's death in 1859 the firm was the largest employer on Tyneside. The old works in Newcastle finally closed in 1904 until Cenamps refurbished the premises in 2005. With financial assistance from One North East, Cenamps has created this exciting new space as well as new design incubator pods.
Designs of the Times 2007 (Dott07), a major design initiative in the North East, is based at the Centre and is the first of five national biennials in the UK conceived by the Design Council in response to their need to demonstrate the power of design to accelerate innovation in industry and in the improvement of public services.
The open space of the building can be used to host events providing opportunities for engagement, stimulation and interaction at the cutting edge of design and technology.