Shard owners give £5m to Science Gallery attraction at Guy's

Shard Funding Ltd – registered in Jersey and majority owned by Qatar – has given £5 million to the Science Gallery London project.

The donation takes the project to its stated £12 million target, together with existing pledges of £3 million from the Wellcome Trust and £4 million from Guy's and St Thomas' Charity.

The free-to-visit attraction will replace the McDonald's restaurant at Boland House on the corner of St Thomas Street and Great Maze Pond.

Science Gallery London hopes to attract more than 300,000 visitors a year, with a focus on engaging 15-25 year olds with science, art and design.

A timetable for the opening of the attraction – which is based on a similar venue at Trinity College Dublin – has yet to be confirmed.

"This is a major milestone for Science Gallery London and we are delighted that Shard Funding Ltd has stepped forward and made such an important donation," said Professor Ed Byrne, principal of King's College London.

"I wish to extend my thanks to Shard Funding Ltd for their commitment to helping us build a new and exciting space that will help younger people connect with big ideas and engage with the wealth of knowledge and expertise that King's has to offer."

Deborah Bull, director of Culture at King's College London, said: "This donation is a significant step towards enabling this exciting new initiative to proceed.

"With its location at the heart of this diverse and vibrant part of London, it will bring together scientists and artists to explore new ideas, inspiring a new generation through the collision of different disciplines.'

Science Gallery London director Dr Daniel Glaser added: "As our pre-opening programme develops, we are delighted to have secured this capital funding.

"Our engagement with King's researchers, students, hospital staff and patients and local communities is growing all the time and we look forward to the opening of the gallery with real anticipation."