The Tyndall National Institute at University College Cork is one of Europe?s leading nano-technology research centres, specializing in ICT hardware research commercialization of technology and the education of next generation researchers. Tyndall has a critical mass of over 370 scientists and support staff. The Institute is sited in Cork City at the historic Lee Maltings complex beside the River Lee. The existing buildings on the site were all listed structures and the Institute?s research activities needed to be maintained uninterrupted throughout the development. The form of the 5600m2 new research building stems primarily from its scientific brief, as well as its relationship to the existing buildings and site. Three floors of flexible laboratory space were built over a tall ground floor housing its clean rooms. A sub-fab basement extends well below the water table on site. An atrium links the laboratory building at all levels to the listed Maltings building where offices and ?write up? are located. The internal street leads into the heart of the complex and has become the primary artery of the Institute, a lively space where people meet and mix informally. Sustainability was a key consideration in the development. Maintaining the lowest energy demands across the entire site was a primary driver in the design. Features that illustrate the sustainable design of the complex range from the extensive use of recycled energy through to sensor based lighting systems and the design of the facades. This development will reduce the C02 emissions from the site from more than five kilotonnes to less than two kilotonnes per year. This represents a greater than 70% reduction in CO2 emissions per researcher.