Urban Sciences Building
A cutting-edge hub for research, education and innovation in the heart of Newcastle. Home to the School of Computing, the Urban Sciences Building drives innovation in data science, sustainability and urban living.
Home to the School of Computing
The Urban Sciences Building (USB) is a world-class research and education centre located in the heart of Newcastle on the Helix site.
Newcastle Helix is a collaboration between Newcastle University, Newcastle City Council and Legal & General.
Helix focuses on data science, urban science and life science, making it the ideal place for the School of Computing.
The School of Computing moved into the USB when the building opened in 2018. Each of the School's research groups has its own lab or space within the USB.
Education and teaching
The USB is a cutting-edge facility designed to support teaching and learning activities. It features a wide range of learning spaces for both students and staff, including:
- lecture theatres
- seminar rooms
- laboratories
- collaborative spaces
It supports undergraduate and postgraduate courses, integrating practical and theoretical learning experiences.
Sustainability
Sustainability is at the hear of everything at the USB. As a living laboratory, the USB has over 4,000 sensors that record detailed research data on:
- heating and cooling
- energy use
- CO2 levels
The University's Sustainability team uses these readings to control the building temperature using the Building Management System. When the building gets too warm, the windows can open and close automatically. This avoids unnecessary use of the air-conditioning systems.
The USB is also partially powered by renewable solar energy, with several solar panels installed on the terraces.
Awards
Upon opening in 2018, the building won several awards. One award recognised its low-carbon design and integration of sustainable technology:
- Green Gown Award for 'Campus of the Future'
- Campus of the Future: Green Gown Award 2018
- Collaborative Built Environment Award 2017
- Rated BREEAM Excellent with a score of 78.2%
Organisations based at the USB
Our Urban Sciences Building also hosts a range of other organisations focused on sustainability and researching a greener future.
Urban Traffic Management and Control
The Tyne and Wear Urban Traffic Management and Control team manages and coordinates traffic across the North East region. They provide real-time traffic data through an open data service. It helps local authorities make informed decisions about traffic management and planning.
Open Lab
With over 80 researchers and staff, Open Lab are one of the biggest research groups in the School of Computing. They specialise in Human-Computer Interaction and ubiquitous computing.
National Edge AI Hub for Real Data
The Edge AI Hub focuses on the effect of cyber disturbances and the resilience of Edge AI. It’s led by Newcastle University and supported by the expertise of 11 other universities. It's based in the USB and supported by the School of Computing’s Networked and Ubiquitous Systems Engineering group.