Manchester Airport opens new sensory and quiet space

Manchester Airport has opened a new Sunflower Room in Terminal 2, providing sensory and quiet spaces for passengers with autism, neurodivergence and other non-visible disabilities to relax and recharge before their flights.

Summary:

Manchester Airport has opened a new Sunflower Room in Terminal 2, providing dedicated sensory and quiet spaces for autistic and neurodivergent passengers and people with other non-visible disabilities.
The facility features two interactive sensory rooms and a quiet room, with adjustable lighting, bubble tubes, infinity mirrors, weighted furniture and low-stimulation areas.
Designed with input from passengers with disabilities, the National Autistic Society and accessibility specialists, the facility is available without pre-booking and includes flight information screens for added convenience.

Manchester Airport – a Corporate Partner of the FTE Digital, Innovation & Startup Hub – has opened a state-of-the-art space in Terminal 2 that will offer respite to passengers with autism and neurodivergence, along with other non-visible disabilities and assistance needs, as they wait to board their flights. The Sunflower Room facility is broken down into three sections – two of which are sensory rooms offering an array of interactive features, alongside a quiet room space to act as a retreat from the hustle and bustle of the terminal, with comfortable seating, low-level lighting and minimal stimuli.

Features of the two sensory rooms include bubble tubes, infinity mirrors, light projectors, adjustable lighting including brightness and colour, and weighted, padded furniture. The design of the rooms and the different types of furniture on offer accommodate for passengers who wish to sit, stand, or lie down when using these spaces. At the entrance are flight information screens, so that passengers using the facility can quickly and easily check for updates and information.

“We’re proud to offer a world-class experience in our award-winning Terminal 2, which is nearing the end of a decade-long transformation,” said Ed Kibblewhite, Head of Terminal Services, Manchester Airport. “This is the latest step in that journey and the facility that we are opening here really is at the cutting edge. Whether you’re looking to relax, reduce sensory input, or simply recharge, these spaces are available for you to use and do not need to be pre-booked.”

The rooms have been designed by Yorkshire-based sensory specialists AmbiSpace, with additional input from the National Autistic Society, the airport’s special assistance provider ABM, and the Manchester Airport Disability Forum – a committee of airport users with disabilities and restricted mobility who advise airport management on issues related to special assistance and accessibility. AmbiSpace has also secured a contract to maintain and manage the facility.

“We’ve previously worked on sensory rooms and quiet spaces in a range of environments, from prisons, to schools and colleges, to shopping centres – but this is the first time we’ve worked on a space like this in an airport, so it’s great to have been able to be part of this project,” said Dean Cook, Marketing Manager, AmbiSpace. “There was a long and meticulous design and consultation process for this space, and the goal was to have a diverse sensory area that could accommodate a range of needs. Different users of this space will have different needs as they relax ahead of their flights and in such a busy international airport, the full array of needs and preferences will be represented among the passengers travelling through, so we needed to be mindful of that.”