Derby City Lab launches to the public at Derbion

The Derby City Lab, to be hosted in the Derbion shopping centre, has announced its launch date.

Opening its doors on Monday, March 4th, the lab will be located on Level 2 and will operate seven days a week, offering varying hours to accommodate visitors.

Situated between Castle Galleries and Goldsmiths, opposite Frasers/Sports Direct and Marks & Spencer, the lab aims to engage the community in understanding the city’s evolution and investment prospects, drawing inspiration from Urban Rooms found in cities like London, Amsterdam, and Shanghai.

It is a joint effort between Marketing Derby, Derby City Council, the University of Derby, and Derbion.

The lab will feature the City Living Room, providing insights into the city’s investment pipeline, and a new Derby City Model, offering a 3D representation of Derby city centre for visitors to explore.

Additionally, visitors can watch a film about the University of Derby’s Urban Sustainable Transition (DUST) project and participate in exhibitions and discussion groups focused on Derby’s rejuvenation.

Adam Rodgers, inward investment executive at Marketing Derby and Derby City Lab lead, said: “We’re thrilled to be able to open the lab to the public – and cannot wait to engage with them on Derby’s future. With its high footfall, Derbion is the perfect location as we look to reach out to various people, gain their feedback and discuss ideas on regenerating the city centre. A visit to the lab will hopefully show them that many exciting developments are taking place in Derby – and we very much want them to be part of that regeneration journey.”