The complex provides eight 40-room pavilions which is linked by a central building together with a new periodicals library. This pulls together the scattered human and material resources of the Cambridge Mathematicians onto one site.

The site level has been lowered by one storey to reduce the apparent scale of the development in accordance with planning constraints. The overall scheme is designed to be built in phases so that pavilions can be added as funds become available.

The exposed structure of the buildings is utilised to dampen temperature swings. Ventilating the building with cool night air allows the heat of the day to be absorbed by the thermal mass and reduces peak day time temperatures.

Roger Preston & Partners used thermal modelling to predict comfort conditions for different natural ventilation strategies.
 

The exposed concrete frame acts to absorb heat and thus controls the rate of temperature change within the building.

A solar chimney allows warm air to rise through ventilation louvres whilst external louvres provide shading along the southern elevation.

The heating, cooling and ventilation of the building are influenced directly by the form and construction.
 

Universiti Teknologi Petronas (UTP) is a new state engineering university complex situated deep in a clearing within the Malaysia sub tropical rain forest.

UTP comprises 23 No. Engineering Laboratory buildings, 4 No. student support facilities, a central administration/student library and resource centre together with the Great Hall building.

Student support facilities include 12 No. 200 person and 10 No. 100 person air conditioned lecture theatres, with multi purpose teaching/lecture facilities.

The 'great hall' provides an air conditioned space for 3000 seated persons principally for student examination and convention activities, but is also multi functional for a range of other different uses including banqueting, exhibitions, live theatre shows and recreational activities.