Exhibition design team chosen for the Fleming Centre
- The Fleming Initiative
- 7 days ago
- 4 min read
Casson Mann has been appointed to design a permanent exhibition that highlights antimicrobial resistance – one of the greatest health challenges of our time – for a bold new public space at the Fleming Centre, due to open in 2028 at St Mary’s Hospital in Paddington, London.
Part of the wider Fleming Initiative, the Fleming Centre will be a research and public engagement hub where scientists work alongside patients, the public and policymakers to scope, test and scale solutions to the growing global health crisis of antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
A century after Sir Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin on the same site, the exhibition will highlight how the health gains made in the golden age of antibiotics risk being lost, and invite visitors to be part of the solution.
The exhibition spaces across the ground and first floors of the building will be brought to life with engaging exhibits, creative visuals, and playful but purposeful interactive games, creating space for participation, dialogue and real-world engagement with AMR solutions and connecting visitors with AMR research taking place within and beyond the Fleming Centre.
Not just a place to educate and inspire visitors, the exhibition will enable active involvement in developing AMR solutions – effectively an extension of the Fleming Initiative’s research and policy workspaces located higher up the building.
Casson Mann is an internationally respected museum and exhibition design studio, who have worked with a wide range of institutions including: Natural History Museum, Science Museum and Imperial War Museum in London, as well as theCité Internationale de la Gastronomie de Lyon, and the Übersee-Museum Bremen.
Their work for the Royal College of Surgeons of England at the Hunterian Museum demonstrates a strong ability to combine visual design with clear, curiosity-led storytelling, creating experiences that invite both reflection and active engagement. They also led the design of the First Light Pavilion at Jodrell Bank Observatory, where they presented the story of radio astronomy in an engaging and accessible way.
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Casson Mann presented a thoughtful proposal with strong understanding of the exhibition’s role within the Fleming Centre. Their approach will include creative strategies to activate the building’s architecture and draw the public into the space, as well as a sharp sense of what would be appealing to the Centre’s core audience.
They bring a vision closely aligned with that of the Fleming Centre: to move beyond a traditional museum experience and create meaningful participation, fostering a dynamic feedback loop between research, public engagement and social impact.
To realise this, Casson Mann’s team will bring together exhibition design, content development and expertise in games and play for the innovative new gallery. They will also work closely with the Fleming Initiative’s advisory group of young people, who will help workshop exhibition ideas, discuss priority themes and test prototype exhibits as the designs develop.
Collaborators joining the Casson Mann team in this project include:
· Episod Studio - Gaming/Play Consultant
· De Pass Montgomery - Graphic design
· Satu Streatfield - Lighting Design
· Rob Ferguson - AV Hardware Design
· Goddard Consultant - CDM
Dr Emily Scott-Dearing, Co-Lead of the Fleming Initiative’s Public Engagement, Involvement & Behaviour Change Pillar and member of the selection panel said:
“We’re delighted to be working with Casson Mann who clearly share our excitement at the prospect of creating an exhibition in such a unique, mission-focussed context. Together we’re excited to build on St Mary’s Hospital’s heritage – the world-changing discovery of penicillin – and mobilise the next generation to keep our antibiotics working.”
Roger Mann, Casson Mann Founder and Creative Director, said:
“Given the nature of antimicrobial resistance - invisible, complex, easy to misunderstand - we know that building trust with audiences will be key to sparking meaningful behaviour change. Our designs for the Fleming Centre will seek to transform visitors into participants, involving the public through play, so we can confront this crisis together.”
Gavin Henderson, Principal Director at Stanton Williams and member of the selection panel said:
“We are excited to be collaborating with Casson Mann who share our passion for designing places that engage the public in a meaningful way - this approach will be critical to delivering the social impact and change which is at the heart of the Fleming Centre’s mission.”
Matthew Tulley is Director of Redevelopment at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, which runs St Mary’s Hospital. He said:
“This is another important moment in the development of the Fleming Centre, which we are aiming to open in 2028 to mark the centenary of Sir Alexander Fleming's discovery of penicillin at St Mary's Hospital.
“We need a range of expertise to bring our ambitious vision to life and are delighted that Casson Mann have joined the team to lead the design of the centre’s permanent exhibition. Education and engagement will be a key part of our efforts to tackle antimicrobial resistance, one of the most pressing global health threats we face.”
Hana Dethlefsen, Exhibition Development Manager of the Fleming Initiative, and member of the selection panel added:
“I am very excited to collaborate with Casson Mann - not only because of their stellar record of delivering beautiful and engaging museum experiences, but because their expertise will help us realise the Fleming Centre’s ambition to create a participatory experience that gives the public a say in how we tackle this health and societal crisis. We are not creating just another exhibition - we are building a space that transforms that public participation into real insight and action.”
About Casson Mann
Casson Mann is an experiential design agency, whose mission is to deliver bespoke, innovative projects for clients from across the arts, heritage, museums and hospitality sectors. The studio has an international reputation for transforming space, content and media into beautiful, engaging experiences that communicate with and engage audiences. With expertise in exhibition, installation, museum and interior design, Casson Mann’s team of designers create environments in which visitors find themselves immersed physically and emotionally. From its locations in London and Paris, the practice’s diverse portfolio includes award-winning cultural, commercial and community projects. Projects include First Light Pavilion at Jodrell Bank, UK; The Holocaust Galleries at Imperial War Museum London, UK; Lascaux IV International Centre for Cave Art, Montignac, France; Hintze Hall at Natural History Museum, London, UK; Musée National de la Marine, Paris, France; and Showtown, Blackpool, UK.
