The War Rooms: A Past Unseen, A Future Revealed Opens to a Packed Launch Night

We were delighted to welcome Nottingham's Mayor, Claire Ward, who spoke about her support for the regeneration of the Nottingham War Rooms and the power of partnership in shaping nottingham's future. Highlighting the importance of collaboration between education, industry, culture and the public sector, her remarks reflected a shared ambition to make Nottingham a place where people want to live, learn, work and stay, while finding new purpose for historic buildings and protecting their heritage for future generations.

Guests also heard from Dan Cordle, Nuclear Cultural Historian, whose engaging storytelling transported the audience back in time, setting the scene for the evening and revealing the remarkable history behind the War Rooms. We were also given a behind-the-scenes insight into the work of Martine Hamilton Knight and Dan Billings, whose creative and technological approaches have helped capture an important moment in the history of the Nottingham War Rooms

The exhibition is a collaborative effort between Martine Hamilton Knight, Dan Billings, Langcroft and CPMG, combining photography, digital technologies, architecture and heritage to explore the site's history and future potential.

As the delivery architects behind Nottingham Trent University's Design & Digital Arts Building, it was particularly special to see the exhibition showcased within a building that CPMG delivered. The contemporary setting provided the perfect backdrop for conversations about the future of another important Nottingham landmark.

The event also highlighted the strength of our collaboration with Nottingham Trent University, whose facilities, technology and support have been instrumental in making the exhibition possible. Through immersive experiences that place visitors inside the War Rooms, the exhibition demonstrates how innovative technology can reveal hidden stories and create new ways of engaging with heritage.

A special thank you must also go to the NTU students who played a key role throughout the evening. Their enthusiasm, professionalism and support in guiding visitors around the exhibition, as well as capturing the event photography, helped make the launch such a success.

Most importantly, the evening demonstrated the strong interest and passion that exists for the Nottingham War Rooms - past, present and future. Bringing together voices from across heritage, architecture, education, technology and regeneration, the launch celebrated not only the building's remarkable history but also the opportunities that lie ahead. The War Rooms is a building that sparks so many "what ifs?" about its past, and Martine Hamilton Knight's photography captures those human stories and moments of possibility beautifully, revealing both the character of the building and the people connected to it.

The exhibition is now open to the public until 13 November at Nottingham Trent University's Design & Digital Arts Building. Whether you're interested in local history, photography, architecture, immersive media or the future of Nottingham, there's something for everyone to discover.

A limited number of tickets remain available for the exhibition and accompanying talks, including sessions with Dan Billings, Martine Hamilton Knight, Langcroft and CPMG Architects.

We look forward to welcoming visitors over the coming days as we continue the conversation about the future of this remarkable piece of Nottingham's heritage.

Book your place: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-war-rooms-a-past-unseen-a-future-revealed-tickets-2001177001281?aff=oddtdtcreator