The roof of the building is made of 3,000 glass panes and was designed to be strong enough to be used as a public viewing platform.
The building was constructed on the site of the former J.L. Thompson and Sons shipyard.
The centre is designed to reflect Sunderland's historical status as a major global center for glass production, which dates back to 674 AD.
The glass floor within the building allows visitors to look down into the lower levels and workshops.
The National Glass Centre serves as a hub for contemporary glass art and Sunderland’s industrial glass-making heritage. It is located on the site of a former shipyard on the north bank of the River Wear. The venue features a fully functional hot glass studio where visitors can watch artists work with molten glass. Rotating exhibitions display both historical glass artifacts and modern sculptural works. The building itself is notable for its roof, which is constructed from over 3,000 glass panels and is designed to be walked upon. It houses the Northern Gallery for Contemporary Art, which curates diverse visual arts programming. The site offers educational workshops and professional glass-blowing demonstrations. It is currently under a significant redevelopment project, with the main facility closed to the public since late 2024 for a multi-year renovation.
The elevated glass roof panels providing views of the River Wear and the Wearmouth Bridge.
Check the official website for off-site pop-up exhibition locations during the main building's closure.
Check the event calendar for glass-blowing demonstration schedules if they are relocated during the renovation period.
Do not attempt to visit the Liberty Way site as it is currently closed for major redevelopment work.
The main National Glass Centre site is closed indefinitely for a major redevelopment project starting in late 2024.
