This event was a last-minute stand-in as the Lord Mayor was ill.  It was a great privilege to see this building and its opening as it really is stunning. Speeches were made by the Vice Chancellor of Oxford University and by David Willetts, the UK Minister of State for Universities and Science, as well as the Head of the Department, Sam Howison.  I was treated to a wonderful tour by the department’s head of administration and hugely enjoyed the visit.  The building is quite amazing in that it has all sorts of mathematical quirks built in, including the Penrose paving, based on a non-repeating pattern discovered by famous Mathematician Sir Roger Penrose, and two “crystals” which are based also on mathematical structures.

The building provides more than 300 offices in a range of sizes, identifiable space for graduate taught course students and 4th year undergraduate students working on projects, an extensive suite of teaching and seminar spaces as well as a range of meeting rooms, breakout spaces and a large departmental common room. It provides workspace for a diverse community of more than 500 mathematical researchers and support staff, including faculty, research fellows and postgraduate students. It is a centre for the academic life of approximately 900 undergraduates.

The project incorporates Ground Source Heat Pumps which will supply heat in winter and cool the building in the summer. This is achieved by submerging pipes deep into the ground that can transfer the temperature to the building by use of pumps. The Institute building was designed by Rafael Viñoly Architects.