CUBRIC Cardiff University

The Project

The Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre (CUBRIC) was the second building to form part of the university's evolving Innovation Campus. At a total cost of £44m, CUBRIC is one of Europe's flagship facilities, bringing together brain-mapping expertise and the very latest in brain imaging. Work done at the centre will help improve understanding of conditions such as dementia, schizophrenia, and multiple sclerosis. Four times larger than the university's old facilities, the new 6,500m² building improves opportunities for collaboration, offering a spacious and sustainable research environment with four world-class scanners under one roof.

A key objective in terms of design and functionality of the building was future proofing.

"In theory, it’s a simple box, but the building had to be future proof"

Justin Price, Construction Manager

The university also wanted the building to be sensitive to the local environment by adopting many energy-efficient features, targeting a BREEAM excellent rating.

The Challenge

It was important to the university and the local authority that the new building integrated seamlessly with the existing Hadyn Ellis building and wider area to create a harmonious campus.

The high-tech MRI scanners used in the research weigh up to 40 tonnes, so the building had to be designed to allow potential installation of any future equipment.

The Solution

The extensive size of the project meant that a watertight building envelope was needed early on in building programme, to remove the façade installation from the critical path.

Eurobond Rainspan was specified as the perfect structural support for the rainscreen system, combining ease and speed of installation with flexibility in terms of design and appearance.

The exterior finish includes a terracotta architectural façade system, which provides the visual impact of a modern façade. The same approach was successfully applied to the Hadyn Ellis building, ensuring each centre would contribute to a consistent campus atmosphere.

Eurobond Rainspan sandwich panels achieve a low environmental impact while delivering the project's required thermal performance, and the recycled components positively supports the university's environmental aims and assessments.