The SKA Organisation officially opened its new international head office on Tuesday. It is located at the University of Manchester’s Jodrell Bank Centre for Astrophysics in Cheshire, England. This is one of the world’s leading radio astronomy observatories and home to the famous 76-m-diameter Lovell radio telescope, first commissioned in 1957.

The new building is a state-of-the-art design, which cost £3.34-million and was funded by the University of Manchester. It was opened by UK Universities and Science Minister David Willetts.

“The Square Kilometre Array is set to be one of the world’s most exciting international science projects, giving us new and unparalleled insights into the universe,” he said. “The fact that the UK has been chosen to host the project office is recognition of our leading expertise in science, engineering and design. It will give us a leading role in the development and operation of this groundbreaking telescope.”

The head office will, in due course, house around 60 staff, including visiting scientists and engineers. It will be the global hub for the international project and will be the base for management of the design, construction and scientific output of the SKA.

The building has actually been in use since November and has been designed for maximum energy efficiency and minimum environmental impact. It was built in just over six months and uses a glass facade to provide natural lighting.

“This wonderful new office, which offers our team stunning views of the Jodrell Bank site, including the famous Lovell telescope, will, we hope, inspire everyone who works here, and will provide our guests and visiting scientists a truly unique scientific facility to conduct their research and work,” affirmed SKA director-general Philip Diamond. “The limited environmental impact and energy efficiency goals we set with the construction of the project office are also in line with our long-term aims for the entire SKA project.”