When the enduringly popular civic observatory became the subject of a PFI development project, the plans incorporated a 30-year plan for effective and efficient facility management and operation. To allow visitors easy and efficient access to the High-power Telescope, the Planetarium and the Exhibition, the three main features, a transit hall designed to present the characteristics of these features and bring them together was established in the center of the facility. Anti-vibration measures for the telescope and a climate controlled environment supports highly accurate astronomical observation, while the installation of a stage within the 25m dome of the planetarium provides for a diverse range of functions. In order to accommodate future changes in exhibition content, the exhibition area has a column-less and flexible design, and the three main high performance features are linked together via an IT network to generate a synergistic effect within the facility.