“A big aggressive box of brick pier and vertical window strips.” That’s how some describe the Kilburn Building. Today we will discover the story behind this iconic structure. The Kilburn Building stands on Oxford Road. It is home to the Department of Computer Science at the University of Manchester.
The Kilburn Building’s story began in 1969. Construction finished in 1972. The Building Design Partnership designed it. The Kilburn Building cost £1.5 million. Its square shape measures 76 by 76 metres.
Originally it was known as the Computer Building. In 2001, its name changed to honour Tom Kilburn. Kilburn died that year. He was a key figure in computer science at the University of Manchester.
Tom Kilburn earned his PhD here. He helped establish the Department of Computer Science. Later he became Dean of the Faculty of Science. He also served as a Vice-Chancellor of the University.
Kilburn’s achievements extended beyond academia. He worked on radar development at a government research centre. Most notably, he and Freddie Williams created the first stored-program computer in 1948. This invention revolutionized the world of computing.
The Pevsner Architectural Guide offers a memorable description of the Kilburn Building. It calls it a “big aggressive box of brick pier and vertical window strips”. Some say its appearance resembles a giant CPU heat sink. The second floor once had a fibreglass structure. It was known as the floating point zero.
Historically, pedestrian walkways connected the Kilburn Building to other parts of the university. One bridge linked it to Manchester Business School. Another connected it to the Mathematics Tower. These walkways were part of a larger vision. This vision aimed to create streets in the sky.
In 1988, the Kilburn Building expanded. The information technology building was added on the east side. Princess Anne officially opened the extension.
Inside, some of the earliest computers resided here. These included the CDC 7600. There was also the ICL 1900 series.
Did you know that a culverted river flows beneath the Kilburn Building? The Cornbrook river runs from Gorton to the Manchester Ship Canal. It passes unseen beneath this center of innovation.
The Kilburn Building stands as a testament to Manchester’s contributions to computer science. The University of Manchester built the world’s first stored-program computer. The Department of Computer Science was the first in the UK. It started an undergraduate program in 1965. Tom Kilburn was the first Head of Department.
The Kilburn Building is more than just bricks and mortar. It is a symbol of innovation. It is a place where the future of computing is constantly being shaped.