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Sustainable Weather and Climate Science Building set to be built in Reading

The University of Reading campus is set to become home to the largest cluster of weather and climate scientists in the world, following agreement to build a new, sustainable, state-of-the-art headquarters for the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) on the University’s Whiteknights campus.

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Designed by BDP and delivered for the UK Department for Science, innovation and technology (DSIT) by the Government Property Agency (GPA), the new building will replace the current headquarters of ECMWF as it moves adjacent to the University’s Department of Meteorology.

BDP is providing a full multidisciplinary design service as part of a team led by Mace, which has signed a Pre-Construction Services Agreement (PCSA) with the GPA to manage the next stage of the project.

The ECMWF new HQ building will provide office accommodation for the organisation’s employees and includes a council chamber, conference and seminar spaces. Wellbeing is supported through a gym, exemplary cycle provision, staff restaurant and an external amenity space. 

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Following the GPA Net Zero guidelines, the design targets a net zero carbon status, supporting ECMWF in its work to record, understand, and predict the weather - producing and disseminating numerical weather predictions to its member states.

BDP architect director, Frank Loehner, explains: “This unique, highly sustainable building will sit in a landscaped setting which reflects the parkland ethos of the university campus, with a design that takes inspiration from the nature of ECMWF research and operations. The site itself is surrounded by an unrivalled green, biodiverse setting which integrates the natural surroundings and the building to become a sanctuary on the campus.

“A fabric-first approach allowed us to optimise the building, making decisions on the form, glazing ratios and performance of the façade, as well as consider the minimisation of the use of materials. These are all crucial in our aim to create a project that has low embodied and operational carbon.” 

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Clive Anderson, GPA Director of Capital Projects said: “We are pleased to be working alongside colleagues from DSIT to deliver the UK offer to continue to host the ECMWF's Headquarters. This will create one of the largest clusters of climate research scientists in the world and continue the UK's leading position in climate change and adaptation. This exciting programme will create a modern, accessible and inclusive workspace for the ECMWF and create a highly sustainable, net zero carbon building to assist the GPA in its objective to contribute to the wider Greening Government Commitments.”

The design goes further in reflecting ECMWF’s organisation’s scientific role and identity. For example, the variations in the vertical pattern take inspiration from the graphical representation of the analytical data produced by ECMWF. The landscape architecture design itself is inspired by the ECMWF’s earth system approach and the interaction of land, ocean and atmosphere.

Pending planning approval, the project will commence in Summer 2024.

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