For Mervyn Horgan, taking on the challenge of managing Cork's Lifetime Lab is a decision that he will never regret.

Having worked for many years in the hospitality sector, Mervyn was offered the chance to take on this central role at the Lifetime Lab when his employer Clancy's Premier Event Catering was awarded the tender to manage the facility.

Since the lab opened its doors to the public in October 2005, Mervyn has played an integral role in the running and development of the centre in the old Victorian waterworks on the Lee Road and has high hopes for the future of the facility.

The centre itself comprises of four main entities, each with very different but, integrated themes which are all overseen by Mervyn.

The first part of the complex is the visitor centre which dates back to 1868. Originally built as a coal store, boiler house and engine room, today, the coal store is used as the conference centre which can be hired for events, launches and corporate meetings and the boiler room accommodates a coffee dock, a pledge and a number of award winning sensory exhibits.

The second building at the Lifetime Lab is the 104 year old steam centre which houses three huge steam engines with two Lancaster boilers.

The third part of the complex is the School Resource Centre. This building originally served as a weighbridge and workshop to service the engines and pipe work at the site, but, today as part of a unique partnership between Cork City Council and the Department of Education & Science, offers students across Cork the chance to learn from and take part in scientific activities and experiments which are carried out by two seconded teachers working at the centre.

The fourth part of the building houses the Cork City Energy Agency who provides information on energy conservation, renewable energy, waste management, composting, transport initiatives, water & air quality and work very closely with SEI.CCEA.

As Facility Manager for the centre, Mervyn is responsible for the management of these four very different entities and has become accustomed to adapting to the different roles he has to take on at any moment.

His former experience working in the hospitality sector has been of huge benefit to him especially when it comes to organising large school visits to the resource centre, accommodating conference meetings at the visitor centre and organising family fun days for corporate clients from across Cork.

Mervyn has also undoubtedly benefited from the experience he gained when he undertook a Degree in Marketing at the Cork Institute of Technology as today, he manages all the marketing and public relations operations at the Lifetime Lab.