The University of Cambridge has unveiled the Ray Dolby Centre, a groundbreaking £303 million facility that now serves as the new home for one of the world's most prestigious physics institutions, the Cavendish Laboratory. Designed by Jestico + Whiles and completed in May 2024 after six years of construction, the 32,900-square-meter building represents a revolutionary approach to scientific architecture, functioning both as a national hub for physics research in the UK and as an educational center for training the next generation of physicists.
The center's innovative design breaks from traditional university architecture by emphasizing public accessibility and transparency. Its outward-facing design philosophy enhances public access to the groundbreaking research happening within, featuring a spectacular quadruple-height atrium at the heart of the public wing that was specifically designed to showcase scientific work to visitors. The building houses 173 state-of-the-art research laboratories alongside workshops, cleanrooms, offices, and collaboration spaces, creating a comprehensive environment for cutting-edge physics research.
The project emerged from the university's need to replace several outdated and inaccessible 1970s buildings in West Cambridge. The university commissioned Jestico + Whiles to create a landmark building that would deliver stringent technical performance while functioning as a welcoming, collaborative workspace for both researchers and students. According to Liliana Vaz, associate at Jestico + Whiles, the university sought "a sense of architectural identity and timelessness that would support the ongoing development and placemaking of the Cambridge West campus."
The architectural team's response focused on employing robust, low-maintenance materials and creating an architectural form that follows its function. "From the outset, the university sought a building with a sense of timelessness, which the design team spent significant time discussing and defining," explains Daniel Bryan-Harris, associate at Jestico + Whiles. "Our interpretation is an architecture that has a sense of permanence and visual weight; which responds beautifully to sunlight and shade; and uses durable materials in a way which is coherent and true to its construction."
This interpretation led to a carefully curated palette of external materials comprising off-white polished reconstituted stone that provides visual weight, aluminum that creates visual counterpoint, and strategic use of glass. Areas of transparent glazing deliberately subvert the university's traditionally inward-looking buildings, while translucent glass cast into U-shaped panels provides glimpses of the inner workings of the plant areas, creating what the architects describe as a "ghosted view" of the building's technical infrastructure.
Internally, the building is strategically organized into two distinct zones, each with materials and finishes tailored to their specific functions. The research zone features spaces designed for adaptability and reconfiguration, finished with functionality and durability as primary concerns. These areas utilize granular-effect resin flooring, oak veneers, and pre-patinated metal surfaces that can withstand the demands of intensive scientific work. A sophisticated suspended ceiling system with expanded mesh panels was chosen to provide near-completely unobstructed maintenance access while veiling services and allowing inspectors to see the infrastructure behind.
The public wing takes a different approach, where less future reconfiguration is expected. Here, enhanced finishes create a more welcoming atmosphere, including timber floors and paneling that echo the warm tones of traditional Cambridge college interiors. "The interior design approach in the public wing is sleek and contemporary, with clean lines and exposed finishes," notes Bryan-Harris. "The warmer tones of oak cladding and bronzed copper materials resonate with the interiors of old Cambridge colleges."
Two lecture theaters serve as architectural highlights, clad in pre-patinated copper shingles that create a striking bronzed effect. These spaces, along with café areas, feature specialized acoustic timber paneling from Hunter Douglas and are designed to facilitate both education and public engagement with science. The material choices throughout reflect a commitment to durability and visual coherence, with products including KME TECU Brass-brownished copper cladding, BOLIDT resin flooring in light grey, and Domus Limestone tiling.
The project involved an extensive team of specialists, with NBBJ serving as executive architect, Jacobs as technical architect, and AECOM handling masterplanning. Structural engineering was provided by Ramboll, while Hoare Lea served as mechanical and electrical consultant, acoustic consultant, and lighting consultant. The main contractor, Bouygues UK, completed the complex construction process that began in June 2018.
As a highly serviced research facility, the Ray Dolby Centre incorporates sophisticated technical systems while maintaining accessibility and visual appeal. The building's design successfully balances the need for cutting-edge scientific infrastructure with the university's vision of creating a more open, publicly engaged approach to physics research. The facility stands as a testament to how contemporary architecture can honor institutional heritage while embracing transparency and public engagement, setting a new standard for academic research buildings in the 21st century.
