Home > Press > ‘Quietest’ building in the world opens today
 |
| The NSQI building at night Photo by Liz Eve, Fotohaus |
Abstract:
The University of Bristol today (Monday 7 September, 2009) opens its Centre for Nanoscience and Quantum Information. This highly distinctive, £11 million building provides state-of-the-art specialised laboratories where vibration and acoustic noise levels are among the lowest ever achieved, despite being located in the centre of Bristol.
‘Quietest’ building in the world opens today
Bristol, UK | Posted on September 7th, 2009High-quality materials have been used throughout this unique structure, which also encompasses several unusual scientific features in its architecture:
* The curved Portuguese limestone on the main elevation is set out in the ‘Fibonacci Series', a sequence of numbers first created by the Italian mathematician, Leonardo Fibonacci, in 1202. The number series has fascinated and perplexed mathematicians for over 800 years.
* The atrium dome is shaped like a ‘bucky ball', a molecular structure (resembling a football) composed entirely of carbon atoms that has the most astonishing properties. It was named after Richard Buckminster "Bucky" Fuller.
* Self-cleaning glass has been installed which uses nano-particles to break down dirt that is then washed away by rainwater.
The basement houses the ‘low noise' area with a suite of ultra-low vibration nanoscience laboratories that are anchored to the rock below.
The purpose-designed environment will house a multi-disciplinary and inter-disciplinary research community drawn from science, engineering and medicine across the world, encouraging innovation to thrive through stimulating interactions and the exchange of ideas.
Examples of research already on-going in the Centre include:
* A novel material made of tiny diamonds that is set to create a new and ‘greener' way of producing electricity. The material's unique properties will enable the sun's heat to be converted directly into electricity. The exceptional environment offered by the NSQI will allow experiments on this material to be undertaken at levels of precision surpassing that achieved in other laboratories around the world.
* A cancerous cell has very different properties from a healthy cell, so by probing it with nano-tools information about its surface properties could be obtained, aiding those engaged in the fight against cancer. Such tools may also be capable of modifying cells using a kind of nanosurgery. Collaborations are already under way with biomedical groups working on cardiac stem cells and neurons.
* A primitive quantum computer that uses single particles of light (photons) whizzing through a silicon chip has just performed its first mathematical calculation. This is a major step forward in the quest to realise a super-powerful quantum computer.
The University's Vice Chancellor, Professor Eric Thomas, will take ownership of the NSQI building today from the builders, Wilmott Dixon Construction.
Professor Thomas said: "Creating the NSQI Centre is a statement of intent that the University of Bristol is committed to attracting and retaining many of the world's foremost researchers in Nanoscience and Quantum Information, ensuring that the south-west of England is well-placed to benefit from the resulting growth in technology, and reinforcing the University's position as a leader of innovation in the UK."
Neal Stephens, Managing Director for Willmott Dixon South West and Wales, explained: "Due to the stringent and exacting nature of nanoscience, the new facility had to meet the most detailed constraints for vibration and acoustics. An extremely controlled environment is paramount with almost zero vibration, acoustic and air movements. The demands, therefore, for quality in construction and delivery were second-to-none. We anticipate that this state-of-the-art facility will attract very considerable interest, not only from scientists but also those keen to learn more about the unique challenges faced by the construction team and the ways in which they were overcome."
Capita Symonds provided project management services and the building was designed by the company's architecture division, Capita Architecture. Iain Martin, Capita Architecture, said: "The NSQI is complex and beautiful, amalgamating both art and science in one harmonious composition. Although technically complex, it has exceeded expectations by becoming ‘the quietest building in the world' in terms of vibration performance. For the scientists, it is a beautiful building for that reason alone!"
####
About University of Bristol
The University of Bristol is a university in Bristol, England. One of the so-called "red brick" universities, it received its Royal Charter in 1909, although its predecessor institution, University College, Bristol, had been in existence since 1876. Bristol ranks as one of the top 10 universities in the United Kingdom according to most published league tables and receives the second most applications per place of any British University. The University has an annual turnover of £260m and is the largest independent employer in Bristol.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
For more information, please click here
Contacts:
Cherry Lewis
Copyright © University of Bristol
If you have a comment, please Contact us.Issuers of news releases, not 7th Wave, Inc. or Nanotechnology Now, are solely responsible for the accuracy of the content.
Bookmark:
| Related News Press |
Laboratories
NIST Patents Single-Photon Detector for Potential Encryption and Sensing Apps September 16th, 2016
Electron beam microscope directly writes nanoscale features in liquid with metal ink September 16th, 2016
World's most powerful X-ray takes a 'sledgehammer' to molecules September 14th, 2016
Products
Particle Works launches range of high quality magnetic nanoparticles August 31st, 2016
Oxford Nanoimaging to provide desktop super-resolution microscopes May 10th, 2016
New Generation of Graphene Reinforced Carbon Fibre Prepreg Products March 14th, 2016
Possible Futures
Harris & Harris Group Notes Announcements by Its Portfolio Companies During the Third Quarter of 2016 September 30th, 2016
How to power up graphene implants without frying cells: New analysis finds way to safely conduct heat from graphene to biological tissues September 30th, 2016
Nanosensors could help determine tumors’ ability to remodel tissue: Measuring enzyme levels could help doctors select appropriate treatments September 29th, 2016
Nanomedicine
Harris & Harris Group Notes Announcements by Its Portfolio Companies During the Third Quarter of 2016 September 30th, 2016
How to power up graphene implants without frying cells: New analysis finds way to safely conduct heat from graphene to biological tissues September 30th, 2016
Nanosensors could help determine tumors’ ability to remodel tissue: Measuring enzyme levels could help doctors select appropriate treatments September 29th, 2016
Fighting cancer with sticky nanoparticles September 27th, 2016
Quantum Computing
Harris & Harris Group Notes Announcements by Its Portfolio Companies During the Third Quarter of 2016 September 30th, 2016
NREL discovery creates future opportunity in quantum computing: Research into perovskites looks beyond material's usage for efficient solar cells September 9th, 2016
NREL Discovery Creates Future Opportunity in Quantum Computing: Research into perovskites looks beyond material’s usage for efficient solar cells September 1st, 2016
Colors from darkness: Researchers develop alternative approach to quantum computing August 31st, 2016
Materials/Metamaterials
How to power up graphene implants without frying cells: New analysis finds way to safely conduct heat from graphene to biological tissues September 30th, 2016
Innovation in Nanotechnology is Focus of Symposium: Annual event brings international experts to Northwestern Oct. 6 September 29th, 2016
Cambrios at CEATEC - Japan 2016 September 29th, 2016
Picosun patents ALD nanolaminate to prevent electronics from overheating September 28th, 2016
Announcements
Harris & Harris Group Notes Announcements by Its Portfolio Companies During the Third Quarter of 2016 September 30th, 2016
How to power up graphene implants without frying cells: New analysis finds way to safely conduct heat from graphene to biological tissues September 30th, 2016
Innovation in Nanotechnology is Focus of Symposium: Annual event brings international experts to Northwestern Oct. 6 September 29th, 2016
Tools
Oxford Instruments systems now facilitate water purification technology September 27th, 2016
Dr Barbara Armbruster promoted to Worldwide Sales and Marketing Director for XEI Scientific September 27th, 2016
Oxford Instruments is ‘Bringing the Nanoworld Together’ in India once again - 22 - 23 November 2016 | IISc Bangalore September 21st, 2016
Bruker Introduces Complete Commercial AFM-Based SECM Solution: PeakForce SECM Mode Enables Previously Unobtainable Electrochemical Information September 20th, 2016
Environment
Coffee-infused foam removes lead from contaminated water September 21st, 2016
Researchers watch catalysts at work August 19th, 2016
Energy
Cambrios at CEATEC - Japan 2016 September 29th, 2016
Researchers at the Catalan Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology show that bending semiconductors generates electricity September 26th, 2016
Semiconducting inorganic double helix: New flexible semiconductor for electronics, solar technology and photo catalysis September 15th, 2016
Nanobiotechnology
Harris & Harris Group Notes Announcements by Its Portfolio Companies During the Third Quarter of 2016 September 30th, 2016
How to power up graphene implants without frying cells: New analysis finds way to safely conduct heat from graphene to biological tissues September 30th, 2016
Nanosensors could help determine tumors’ ability to remodel tissue: Measuring enzyme levels could help doctors select appropriate treatments September 29th, 2016
Fighting cancer with sticky nanoparticles September 27th, 2016
New-Contracts/Sales/Customers
SENAI Outfits New Tribology Lab with Bruker UMT TriboLab Systems: Brazil’s National Service for Industrial Training Invests in Six Bruker Tribometers September 14th, 2016
Thomas Swan and NGI announce unique partnership July 28th, 2016
Solar/Photovoltaic
Cambrios at CEATEC - Japan 2016 September 29th, 2016
Semiconducting inorganic double helix: New flexible semiconductor for electronics, solar technology and photo catalysis September 15th, 2016
New perovskite research discoveries may lead to solar cell, LED advances September 12th, 2016
 |
||
 |
||
| The latest news from around the world, FREE | ||
 |
||
|
|
||
| Premium Products | ||
 |
||
|
Only the news you want to read!
Learn More |
||
 |
||
|
University Technology Transfer & Patents
Learn More |
||
 |
||
|
Full-service, expert consulting
Learn More |
||
|
|
||
