Client
University of Nottingham
Sectors
YMD Boon was appointed to deliver lead designer, architecture and principal designer services for the new Hybrid Propulsion Systems Building at the University of Nottingham. The facility is designed to bring together hybrid propulsion systems research, enabling early-stage, full system-level testing in collaboration with the University’s industry partners to accelerate the development of zero-carbon technologies.
The facility represents a major step forward for the UK’s clean propulsion sector and strengthens the UK’s capability to develop and test electrification and hybrid propulsion technologies.
The centre will support key partners including Rolls-Royce, the Ministry of Defence, and British Aerospace Engineering, providing highly flexible testing environments for the automotive, aerospace, and nautical sectors. The building adopts a robust industrial form, incorporating double-height testing spaces of approximately 6 metres, large roller shutter doors to accommodate HGV access, and a 200sqm external yard and concrete pad to support the hydrogen feed supply.
A series of dedicated testing chambers replaces a traditional single open-plan space, improving flexibility, safety, and adaptability for a wide range of testing configurations. A direct connection to the adjacent engineering building enables seamless movement of approved personnel and services to the main control room. A shop-window frontage and observation gallery introduces visitors to the facility that showcase research activity.
Health and safety considerations were embedded into the design from inception, particularly in response to the on-site storage of up to 300kg of hydrogen and the use of specialist gases. Extensive stakeholder workshops informed the brief, spatial adjacencies, and operational strategy, ensuring robust technical compliance and successful planning approval.
YMD Boon was appointed through the University of Nottingham ‘Architectural and Engineering Design Consultancy Services’ Framework.
Find out more about the Hybrid Propulsion Systems Building opening here.
The difficult step is moving from a promising laboratory result to representative hardware that can be manufactured, connected and tested at meaningful power. This building provides that missing platform, helping reduce development risk and retain expertise, intellectual property and future industrial activity in the UK.
Director of the Zero Carbon Cluster
University of Nottingham
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