Designed by Archial Architects, one of the UK’s leading architectural practices, The Hauser Forum is a cornerstone of the University’s strategy for West Cambridge to provide the modern research and teaching facilities required to compete with other leading international universities whilst acting as a pioneering centre for research collaboration with local and international industry.

Named after Dr Hermann Hauser, the building’s alumni sponsor, The Hauser Forum forms a new gateway to the University’s West Cambridge Campus.

An enterprise hub designed to stimulate ‘open innovation’ collaborations between clusters of academics, start-up businesses and established industries, the Hauser Forum comprises two buildings providing a home to Cambridge Enterprise, a University-owned company focused on commercial knowledge transfer, an Idea Space for emerging companies and a seminar centre for events promoting Cambridge research to the business and investment community.

Chris Exley, Director at Archial Architects, said, “A cafe and atrium meeting place has replaced the former West Café to encourage the exchange of ideas across disciplines for academics and visitors from across the campus in a social and relaxed atmosphere.

“The development is naturally ventilated and designed to achieve a BREEAM excellent rating, using an underground labyrinth to pre-cool incoming air, ground source heat pumps and an attenuation pond and reed beds to filter run-off water.”

The project was made possible thanks to an £8 million donation to the University’s 800th Anniversary fundraising campaign from the Hauser-Raspe Foundation and a £2 million investment by The East of England Development Agency (EEDA).