Friday June 12th 2009 saw the formal opening of the £8.35m rail terminus, cafe and visitor centre, Hafod Eryri at Snowdon summit, opening its doors to the public in May 2009. The official opening was carried out by the Rt Hon Rhodri Morgan who unveiled a special mountain stone set into the rear terrace of the new building. It is built from natural locally-sourced materials, with some of the natural stone fixed and masoned by Stone Central (NW) Ltd and supplied by Hardscape and is eco-friendly and essentially sustainable in nature. Hafod means 'residence on high' and Eryri is Welsh for Snowdonia. Designed by Ray Hole Architects Ltd and Furneaux Stewart Design Ltd, it will provide visitors of all ages with the opportunity to learn more about the mountain’s significance as a unique recreational, environmental and cultural resource. Carillion Construction put together the structure which was broken down into pieces to be transported up the mountain 'flat-pack' fashion via the mountain railway. The centre’s roof merges with the sloping contours of the mountainside in an unobtrusive way and the façade is constructed from low-reflective glass to give the best outlook over the dramatic scenery.
