Millburn House Extension
A consortium led by the University of Warwick has been awarded £17 million to develop a state-of-the-art facility to house the UK’s most powerful Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) instrument, operating at 1.2GHz.
This new building will be constructed alongside the existing 1.0GHz National Research Facility at Millburn House.
NMR instruments are essential for analysing complex materials at the atomic level, using magnets that are nearly one million times stronger than the Earth’s magnetic field. With only seven 1.2GHz machines in operation globally, this new instrument will offer unprecedented insights into material structures.
The research facilitated by this cutting-edge equipment will have practical applications in energy materials, catalysis, pharmaceutical development, synthetic biology, and the fight against antimicrobial resistance.
The extension project commenced on site in January 2024.
Construction challenges:
- The magneticity of the instrument requires careful selection of construction materials
- Temperature stability while the machine is operating to be maintained between +/- 0.5°C
- Humidity is to be maintained between 30% to 80% relative humidity
- The instrument is currently being manufactured in Switzerland and will be delivered to site early 2025, meaning the building must be ready to receive it
Features
£17 million investment in a state-of-the-art research facility at Millburn House.
Home to the UK’s most powerful 1.2GHz Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) instrument.
One of only seven 1.2GHz NMR machines in the world, enabling unprecedented atomic-level material analysis.
Breakthrough applications in energy materials, pharmaceuticals, synthetic biology, and antimicrobial resistance.
Advanced design with strict temperature control (+/- 0.5°C) and humidity regulation (30%-80% relative humidity).
Strategic location alongside the existing 1.0GHz National Research Facility at Millburn House.
Facility ready by early 2025 to accommodate the NMR instrument's delivery.