It was completed in June 2004. The University has shown a significant commitment to e-Science by providing the building. Further commitment is demonstrated by allocation of SRIF funding for a Virtual Reality suite and considerable computing resource, to be housed in the new building.

The NEReSC will remain at the forefront of this commitment and of ongoing e-Science activities.

The outline design achieves the following key integrated environmental /structural approach.

• High quality internal environment, with all internal spaces designed as mixed mode systems to take advantage of natural ventilation with additional mechanical cooling and heating during summer and winter.
• Significant energy reductions.
• Structural frame solution with moveable partitions allowing a high degree of flexibility to accommodate future space planning.
• Optimisation of low embodied environmental impact materials and the use of recycled materials and optimisation of prefabrication of primary structural elements for quality and speed of erection.
• Building orientation and massing designed to minimise adverse impact of the site, whilst maximising the potential benefits.
• By the careful design of the structural form, the thermal mass of the building is used to provide cooling in both the mid-season and summer periods using night-time ventilation and to capture passive solar gain in the winter season, thus reducing loads and energy use in operation.
• Building fabric consisting of glazed facade to the south and west with the use of louvres allowing control of solar gain and natural ventilation.
• Solar collectors and wind turbines are proposed to provide renewable energy.
• Borehole cooling and grey water recycling is to be considered during the next design stage to reduce waste and manage water resources