The £114 million lottery-funded project, due to open in September, will be a lasting tribute to modern technology in both its construction and function. Leading-edge technology is used in the structure and services. It will house Birmingham's new museum of science and discovery (The Thinktank), a centre for research and development (The Technology Innovation Centre), a modern shopping and leisure complex (The Hub) and an IMAX® theatre.

MEM Circuit Protection and Control offered the ability to engineer a complete distribution system, including packaged substations, Mempower busbar risers, Memshield 2 moulded-case circuit-breaker (MCCB) panelboards and Memshield 2 miniature circuit-breaker (MCB) distribution boards.

MEM engineers worked closely with Electrical Contractor, NG Bailey, and Engineering Consultants, Ove Arup and Partners to develop a distribution system that used advanced, yet appropriate, technology. A particular concern was to optimise the use of on-site labour.

The site is supplied at 11kV by a Midlands Electricity ring main substation. The four MEM packaged substations comprise Memform Form 4 cubicle switchboards, with cast resin transformers, medium and low voltage switchgear, MEM power factor correction and transient voltage surge suppression equipment.

Electrical supplies to the Technology Innovation Centre are crucial because this will be used by academic institutions and industry for research and development. The substation includes two 1500kVA cast resin transformers feeding three 2500A panels. One transformer normally feeds a panel serving the ground floor (Level 0) while the other feeds a panel serving Levels 1 to 4. A normally-closed bus-section switch from this feeds an essential services panel. Either transformer can feed all three panels, if necessary. If the mains supply fails, a PLC-controlled changeover switch will connect the essential services panel to the standby generator.

A roof-top substation serving chillers and related systems was built by MEM at its Premier Street Factory, two miles away. The substation, in its glass fibre reinforced plastics enclosure, was lifted into place by crane as a single unit. Only the 1500kVA cast resin transformer was lifted separately.

Cable feeders from the substations feed a total of seven 800A Mempower XP busbar risers. Mempower XP is a modern low impedance busbar trunking system which uses an innovative jointing system to reduce the number of joints and allow greater design flexibility.

At each level, a Memshield 2 panelboard provides sub-distribution for power and lighting. There are 35 boards, most of which are fitted with five 100A three-phase MCCBs. One MCCB feeds lighting and another general power distribution. The remaining three MCCBs provide flexibility to meet future needs. Final distribution is provided by Memshield 2 distribution boards.

The Millennium Point Project is supported by a £50 million grant from the Millennium Commission, £25.6 million from the European Regional Development Fund and £7.4 million from Advantage West Midlands. Another £6.9 million has come from various sponsors. Main Contractor is GCN Joint Venture. The Mason Richards Partnership is architect and RW Gregory & Partners are services consultants.