The new building illuminated at night
The building has twice been illuminated with projections of cosmological simulations and animations, designed in this very department, for the Lumiere festival.
Durham University is a world leading centre of research in astronomy and cosmology – a position strengthened by the new building for The Ogden Centre for Fundamental Physics. The £11.5m centre draws together a team of international scientists, postdoctoral researchers and PhD students from more than 20 countries around the world. Together they are investigating the mysteries of the cosmos, from the birth of the Universe through to the origin of galaxies, to the nature of dark matter and dark energy.
The original Ogden Centre East building, adjacent to the Physics Department, was opened by the then Prime Minister, the Rt Hon Tony Blair MP, on the 18th October 2002 and is home to the Institute for Particle Physics Phenomenology.
This building makes a wonderful contribution to the unique architectural heritage of Durham City. Its design fits the requirements of a top-class research centre, dedicated to seeking answers to some of the most fundamental questions about our Universe such as: How and when did our Universe begin? What is it made of? How did galaxies and other structures form? The new building conveys a sense of adventure that reflects the novelty and excitement of the research that goes on within it.