Scott Tallon Walker Architects have won the competition to create the world’s first centre for research into 5G mobile technology at the University of Surrey.

Scott Tallon Walker Architects’ concept for the new £35 million building creates a flexible space with a circular atrium that acts as a central lung and focus, to ensure maximum interaction amongst researchers. This ability to have both staff and students interact easily is a key element in the success of the design.

The new centre, expected to be completed by the end of January 2015, will house the UK’s largest academic research centre for mobile communications with 130 researchers and around 90 PhD students.

When built the scheme will achieve an ‘Excellent’ environmental rating under a leading environmental standard called BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Assessment Method) which sets the standard for best practice in sustainable building design, construction and operation and has become one of the most comprehensive and widely recognised measures of a building’s environmental performance.