Alan Reece Building

In November 2009, a unique building sprung up on the University of Cambridge’s West Cambridge site. The Alan Reece Building, a purpose-built structure, became the new home for the Institute for Manufacturing. This wasn’t just another brick-and-mortar addition to the university. The Alan Reece Building was designed with a specific purpose. It was meant to be a hub where management, policy, and technology within engineering disciplines could converge. The building itself is a testament to modern architectural design, boasting a spacious 3150m2 footprint. Inside the Alan Reece Building, you’ll find state-of-the-art facilities. These cater to researchers and provide flexible teaching spaces for various programs. From undergraduates to postgraduates, executive education participants, and conference attendees, the building accommodates a diverse range of learners. The Alan Reece Building houses an impressive 870m2 of laboratory space. This space is dedicated to cutting-edge research in areas like industrial automation, industrial photonics, inkjet technology, and nano-manufacturing. One of the building’s most distinctive features is its biomass system. A 220kW system, fueled by wood pellets, is located on the roof. This unusual placement necessitated the use of wood pellets. They can be blown from a delivery vehicle over long distances, facilitating delivery to the rooftop plant room. The Alan Reece Building stands as a tribute to Dr. Alan Reece, a remarkable engineer, and businessman. His generous £5 million donation made the building possible. Dr. Reece’s legacy extends beyond this building. He was a pioneer in his field. He developed groundbreaking engineering ideas and transformed them into successful business ventures. He founded Soil Machine Dynamics, one of the earliest university break-out businesses. Another of his companies, Pearson Engineering, designs life-saving countermine and counter-IED equipment. The Alan Reece Building embodies Dr. Reece’s spirit of innovation. It’s a place where future generations of engineers can learn, research, and create.