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Babbage Building: where engineering meets design
The £63 million Babbage Building creates a state-of-the-art space to inspire the engineering and design pioneers of the future
Dedicated to teaching and research, the Babbage Building brings STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics) subjects together to support academic collaboration and innovation.
Situated on the western edge of our city-centre campus, the landmark facility has transformed the teaching capacity and research capability of our schools.
We can solve problems when disciplines come together
Housing contemporary specialist equipment and laboratories, this facility brings engineering, science and the arts together, enabling holistic and creative approaches to problem-solving to address some of the world’s biggest issues, such as climate change and healthcare.
Through exemplary social, research and teaching spaces, it allows a new depth of collaboration across related subject areas, facilitating brilliant minds coming together and solving real-world issues.
Outstanding facilities to support teaching, research and business
STEAM laboratories
Offering active learning spaces for students to work together and learn the fundamental principles of engineering systems
Energy and Sustainability Laboratory
Offering students, researchers and businesses access to a 180kph sub-sonic wind tunnel, rolling road dynamometer, and numerous other experimental equipment
Heavy Structures and Geotechnics Laboratory
Providing engineering students with a hands-on experience of the structural testing of large engineering components, fabricated from a range of engineering materials
Wood Fabrication Facility
Our specialist open-access Wood Fabrication Facility enables students to realise their designs in three dimensions
Immersive Visualisation Suite
Providing a hybrid, virtual reality enabled visualisation system that will support a diversity of users from across the University and the wider industrial community
Materials Analysis and Characterisation Laboratory
A state-of-the-art facility dedicated to exploring the structure and properties of materials
Autonomous Systems Test Laboratory
Supporting research in robotic vehicles and control systems
Nanomaterials and Devices Laboratory
A cutting-edge facility dedicated to research and development in nanotechnology
Composites Engineering Laboratory
A facility for manufacturing and evaluating engineering components with thermoset composite materials
DigiFab Laboratory
The DigiFab Laboratory offers engineering students a hands-on introduction to digitally driven manufacturing processes, enabling them to fabricate functionally robust components from a range of thermoplastic materials.
This lab complements the manufacturing processes available in the Precision Manufacturing Laboratory. Together, these labs provide students with the ability to fabricate engineering components to a high level of precision for use in other specialist and experimental labs in the Babbage Building.
Engineering Computing Laboratories
The Engineering Computing Laboratories provide engineering students with access to specialist software for Computer-Aided Design (CAD) and Computer-Aided Engineering (CAE).
This lab enables engineering students to develop essential digital design skills, as well as an understanding of physics-based, numerical simulation software. Mastery of these tools will enhance students academically and greatly improve their professional employment prospects.
Precision Manufacturing Laboratory
The Precision Manufacturing Laboratory provides engineering students with a hands-on introduction to manufacturing processes and enables them to fabricate components in a range of engineering materials using forming, shaping, joining and machining processes.
Students have direct access to Computer Numerically Controlled (CNC) machines, tools and support from our skilled manufacturing technicians. This enables students to fabricate engineering components to a high level of precision for use in other specialist and experimental labs in the Babbage Building.
Digital Design Fabrication
Blending modern digital design fabrication processes with traditional manufacturing techniques, our Digital Fabrication facility offers students the chance to get hands-on with different materials and techniques.
For example, the facility has a CAD-CAM suite with high-spec computers, digital scanning facilities, laser cutters and CNC routers and milling machines. Our expert technicians have a wealth of industry experience and offer advice and support to students when developing projects, from concept to final outcome.
As specialists, they help students to build their knowledge of professional design manufacturing processes and broaden their skillset and employability, which is vital for employment in professional practices.
Metal Fabrication
Our specialist open-access Metal Fabrication facility enables students to be exploratory and experimental, placing making at the core of their practice. Here they can discover hot and cold working and understand how metal as a material is applied and performs.
Cold working involves joining and shaping metal using cutting, drilling, folding, bending, turning and milling, using a variety of hand tools. Guided by experienced technicians, students can manipulate materials using heat via our in-house forge and welding equipment.
For those looking to advance their skill sets, students can learn how traditional craftsman skills can be applied to modern practices.
A great collaborative space
BA (Hons) Product and Furniture Design student Lily shows us how the new Metal Fabrication facility will enhance and enrich her practice.
The Babbage Building's superb spaces and facilities will encourage the creation and exchange of ideas between students across all disciplines, reflecting 21st-century working practices and the expectations of today's employers. This major investment to develop first-class teaching spaces, research facilities and laboratories reflects the successes of our STEM community; it will strengthen our relationships with industrial partners and will support the University in its mission to advance knowledge and transform lives.
Professor Alex Belton
Head of School and substantive Professor of Mathematics, School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics
Head of School and substantive Professor of Mathematics, School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics
Plymouth is undergoing something of a creative revolution. It is bringing design and digital innovation to the fore and ensuring the city’s creative sector can offer new opportunities, spaces and skills. This new facility will enhance the University’s place at the forefront of that, and mean we can continue to attract and nurture the design stars of the future.
Professor Chris Bennewith
Executive Dean for the Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Business
Executive Dean for the Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Business
A building in motion
During the construction of the Babbage Building, our civil and coastal engineering students gained unique access to the site as part of a their second-year module on Construction Management.
Not only did the in-depth tour of the building development provide our students with the opportunity to experience a real working construction site, but it also offered them a sneak-peak into what would become their exciting new learning environment.
Re-imagining the next-generation campus
Babbage Building is a key part of our 10-year masterplan that will revitalise our campus and its surrounding area.