Following a design competition in August 1999, Bill Dunster architects were appointed to design a new conference and arrivals facility at the earth centre.
The requirement to preserve the views of distant Connisborough Castle, and create a sense of arrival at the hub of the Earth Centre has resulted in two separate buildings. Our focus being on the first of these buildings - the conference centre that is buried into the hillside.

Gabion baskets filled with crushed concrete from local demolition sites, have been used to construct the structural walls which are in part acting as retaining walls for the earth banks behind. The gabions have also been used to clad the external walls of the conference centre.