Museum bosses hope to make their iconic building a television star – by lighting it up at night.
Outdoor lights are set to be installed at the Imperial War Museum North so it will show up in the background during news bulletins from the BBC’s new base at MediaCity in Salford Quays.
Museum director Jim Forrester said: "The planned scheme is intended to enhance the museum as a world-class visitor destination.
"The lighting will also help The Quays, Trafford and Salford to stand out across the UK and the world, as an exciting visitor destination due to live broadcasting from MediaCity from November 2011 onwards."
The museum is currently seeking planning permission for the scheme, which would see 30ft lighting columns installed on the north face of the building.
It also wants to put up an illuminated sign on the same side.
Mr Forrester said: "The proposed scheme has been carefully designed to illuminate only the north elevation of the building with the minimum of light-spill, and the light sources will face away from residents and businesses on the north side of the canal.
"We are certain that the evening experience will be even more dramatic and stunning for visitors and residents alike, without causing any increased disruption."
Around 150 BBC workers have already arrived at MediaCity and a total of 2,300 jobs will move up north.
Several high-profile departments including Five Live and BBC Breakfast are coming to Salford Quays.
The Imperial War Museum North was designed by award-winning architect Daniel Libeskind. It has around 250,000 visitors every year and is one of the most popular attractions in the north west.
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Great, more light pollution and unnecessary use of energy. Just what we need.
How very green of them......a totally pointless waste of energy.
Why not use anti-aircraft spotlights and barrage balloons for that real effect..or NOT.
have you been down there at night?
just passing traffic, what a waste of money and energy this would be.
Could set it on fire that would give off light. Seriously I went to this museum recently and thought it was rubbish. I love history and love reading about world war 1 and 2 but this was small and had hardly anything in it. Even though it was free I still had a sense that I was ripped off when I left. It looks to me that it is the actual building itself that was designed for all the attention and the inside of it was just an afterthought.
Stupid idea to waste money ! Nice building, but its a pretty poor museum in all honesty ..
Is the electricity bill being paid for by the fees they charge for using their car park. I thought that the idea these days was to turn off electricity to save money and not waste money.
Obviously the bill won't be paid out of Forresters salary. What a pity and what a suggestion.