The building houses postgraduate researchers and write-up space to support the Department in undertaking world-leading research in areas including advanced materials, smart infrastructure, electric vehicles and efficient internal combustion systems. Link bridges were constructed to enable easy access from the existing laboratories to the new write-up areas.

Construction of the building included installation of fibre-optic sensors in the foundation piles, columns and floor sections; providing live data about temperatures and strain which gives a picture of how the building behaves in operation.

The department had high aspirations for a low-energy; low carbon building that would reflect the innovative work which goes on within the department, whilst also radically reducing energy and life-cycle costs. The largely open-plan research space is naturally ventilated using ventilation ‘chimneys’.

The talk will review the brief, the design and construction of building as well as sharing the experience of the occupiers. The talk will be followed by a tour of the building with refreshments and networking opportunities available after.