Forecasting the future with GPA’s landmark green hub

• A fabric-first design approach and low-carbon material choices ensure minimal embodied and operational carbon, achieving BREEAM Excellent and setting a benchmark for net-zero delivery.
• Full turnkey delivery from stage two design guarantees integrated coordination, reducing programme risk and ensuring the facility meets complex operational requirements.
• The interactive weather room and council chamber enable real-time data analysis and international assemblies, strengthening ECMWF’s role as a global leader in weather and climate science. 

Located within the prestigious University of Reading’s Whiteknights campus, the new headquarters for the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) is an independent facility being constructed by Mace on behalf of the Government Property Agency (GPA). This landmark project will become a beacon of sustainable construction and meteorological excellence, enhancing the local area with cutting-edge research spaces while reinforcing Reading’s reputation as a global hub for weather and climate science. 

The addition of the new headquarters on the campus will create the largest cluster of weather and climate research and operational forecasting facilities in the world. It will sit alongside the university's Department of Meteorology, as well as parts of the UK Met Office and the Natural Environment Research Council’s (NERC) Centres for Atmospheric Sciences and Earth Observation. 

Construction of the state-of-the-art research and operational facilities, funded by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) and overseen by GPA with Mace as principal contractor, is expected to be ready for occupation in early 2027. It will house a 24/7 operational service that produces and disseminates numerical weather predictions, cross-disciplinary workspaces, a conference centre, a council chamber for international assemblies, and an interactive weather room. These features will support ECMWF’s mission to advance weather forecasting and climate science, benefiting EU member states and the global community. The project also includes a restaurant and landscaped grounds, enhancing the overall environment for staff and visitors. 

Carbon-focused design 

From the outset, we have committed to delivering a net-zero carbon building, targeting LETI 2030 standards and BREEAM Excellent. Appointed as main contractor through the Crown Commercial Service framework (CCS), we led the design process from stage two, working closely with BDP, our multidisciplinary designer, and their sustainability team. Every design decision has been driven by carbon efficiency, from the structure to the façade materials. The building’s design emphasises honesty in materials, with exposed structural elements that reflect its sustainable ethos. This approach ensures the headquarters will stand as a benchmark for low-carbon delivery in science and technology projects, supporting ECMWF’s mission to advance climate resilience.