Dudley Zoo has revealed design plans of the proposed Trilobite building – a futuristic education and conference centre with a nod to the site’s ancient history.

The new building, which is being designed to recreate the famous Dudley Bug fossil shape, would be built on the site of Dudley Hippodrome, in Castle Hill opposite the Station Hotel, if plans are approved.

It will incorporate a centre for zoology, geology and education with a link to the limestone Stores Cavern beneath the zoo site.

The centre will showcase CastleHill’s history as part of a prehistoric seabed, educating visitors about the trilobite, also known as the Dudley Bug, while linking to DZG’s animals and conservation work, and explaining how limestone and coal are key minerals to the region’s industrial heritage.

Major £10m plans for Castle Hill are already under way with a new visitor entrance in the pipeline to transform the lower levels of the zoo’s 40-acres site to link with the Black Country Living Museum and Dudley Canal Trust.

Dudley Zoo CEO Peter Suddock said a European funding bid for the new centre, to be built on the site of the former DudleyHippodrome theatre, would be submitted next year, subject to planning permission. It is hoped that work would get underway in 2015/16 and be integrated into the Castle Hill programme.

Suddock said: “Trilobite will expand and improve our education facilities to meet the growing demands placed upon Dudley Zoo and support our new castle experience which opens in October 2014.”

The plans also herald the start of a new partnership with Dudley College.

Suddock added:“In co-operation with Dudley College, Trilobite will provide a centre of excellence for training in subjects related to visitor attractions, such as customer services, catering, retail, event management, travel and tourism, all linked to the attraction industry and be the only facility in the UK adjacent to an operating site.

“We are currently exploring avenues for funding with a number of sources, including HLF, ERDF and LEP.”