September 21, 2021
Sunstone Building – a meeting place for theory and experimentation
Facts and figures about the Sunstone Building • Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy • Broadening the scope of research • Improving Graduate school
The Sunstone Building is the ninth new building on the Institute of Science and Technology Austria (IST Austria) campus in Klosterneuburg, whose ceremonial opening took place last Sunday, September 19. The building has a floor area of over 10,000m2. Sunstone will serve as a theoretical and experimental research meeting point, where 120 researchers will work in 12 research groups.
“The new Sunstone Building will house the Graduate School and Library of IST Austria as well as state-of-the-art equipment for basic chemical research. Furthermore, it will be home to 12 research groups, which, like all researchers at IST Austria, will follow their curiosity without thematic constraints,” says Thomas Henzinger, President of IST Austria.
Investigating the dynamics of life
In addition to the research groups, a new Scientific Service Unit will expand the scientific possibilities on campus/at IST Austria. With the nuclear magnetic resonance facility, it will be possible to investigate the dynamics and functioning of molecules such as proteins to study the building blocks of life in even greater detail. It will also be possible to investigate the magnetic and electrical properties of the tiniest particles to track down quantum phenomena. Up to 120 researchers from theoretical and experimental sciences will create new insights in the 10,000m2 area. The mix of theoretical and experimental groups is essential to promote exchange between various subjects. A total of 12 groups will work in the new building.
Training the next generation of scientific leaders
The new Sunstone Building will also include a new library, which will provide researchers access to 400m2 of specialist literature and the opportunity to exchange ideas with colleagues from other disciplines. To further improve the education of students, the new Graduate School will also be located in the new laboratory building.
The Sunstone building and subsequent developments on campus
The Sunstone Building was designed by Franz&Sue and Maurer & Partner and opened its doors three years after the foundation stone laying. Other buildings are already under construction and in the planning stages to support the ever-growing research community. As of this year, the next laboratory building is under construction that will house researchers and a seminar center. In addition, another laboratory building is currently in the design phase.
