The Ray Dolby Centre - the home of the Cavendish Laborotory has been named in the World’s Most Beautiful Universities List 2026 – one of a series of international architectural awards presented annually by Prix Versailles.
The new building's stunning design was celebrated alongside eight other new buildings at universities around the world, including the University of Oxford’s Stephen A. Schwarzman Centre, and Harvard University’s David Rubenstein Treehouse.
The design and construction was managed by the University's Estates Division and it was designed by the architecture and interior design practice Jestico + Whiles and constructed by Bouygues UK in partnership with executive design partners NBBJ and BDP. Cavendish scientists worked closely with architects on the layout of the facility, which includes a central 'street' and light-filled concourses, communal spaces and open circulation to encourage chance encounters between researchers, students and visitors.
The building – officially opened at the Cambridge West Innovation District in May 2025, signals a new era of physics research – is also open to the public, in the form of a quadruple-height atrium, as well as exhibition and outreach spaces.
Read more in this news story on the University website.