Derby City Lab toasts two years of engaging and inspiring

The Derby City Lab, which was established to engage the public in the city’s future, is celebrating its second anniversary.

Originally launched in July 2022, the lab has played a key role in informing the Derby public about the city’s regeneration future – and gathering their comments, observations and suggestions.

During those two years, the Derby City Lab has engaged almost 10,000 visitors, obtained opinions and comments from hundreds of people and hosted a range of exhibitions and focus groups.

The first edition of the lab opened in St James’s Street. Today, it is located on Level 2 of the Derbion shopping centre.

Adam Rodgers, inward investment executive at Marketing Derby and Derby City Lab lead, said: “It’s outstanding the amount the lab has achieved in the last two years.

“At our first base, on the regeneration front-line on the street with the highest vacancy rates, St James’s Street, we attracted more than 1,200 people and hosted over 16 exhibitions.

“In the latest edition of the lab, in Derbion, where we now employ four members of staff enabling us to open seven days a week, we have currently engaged over 8,000 people, obtaining over 500 opinions and comments on Derby’s future.”

The first edition of the Derby City Lab opened for business on 13 July, 2022.

Designed to engage, inform and inspire people about plans to shape the city going forward, the initiative was based on the concept of ‘urban rooms’, which have appeared in various cities around the world to help local communities better understand the evolution of their place.

It was backed by Marketing Derby, the University of Derby, Derby City Council, Lathams and Clowes Developments.

Such was its success that in October last year, the partnership behind the Derby City Lab won the Public/Private Partnership Award at the prestigious EG Awards, beating off entries from London, Liverpool and Manchester.

On March 4, the city lab re-opened in its current location, inside Derbion, where it is enjoying great success, engaging thousands of people thanks to the centre’s high rates of footfall.

The centrepiece of the second edition of the city lab is the Derby City Model – a detailed 3D model of Derby city centre, which aims to help visitors visualise the city’s ongoing regeneration story.

It also houses the City Living Room, which includes detailed information about the city’s investment pipeline, as well as a 300-year timeline of the city.

Visitors can also view the city of the future by watching a film all about the University of Derby’s Derby Urban Sustainable Transition (DUST) project.

The lab also serves as a venue for various focus groups, competitions and events.

According to Adam, more exciting events are in the pipeline.

He said: “We are launching Derby Quest, which will involve participants completing a walking tour of city centre sites, while answering questions.

“Entrants will have the chance to be entered into a draw for two QUAD cinema tickets.

“And a special birthday Derby Insider Tour will also take place on Thursday 25 July.”

To plan your visit to the Derby City Lab visit https://derbycitylab.com/ .

To find out more and to register for the Derby Insider Tour, visit https://derbycitylab.com/whats-on/walking-tours/ .