Princess Anne visited the British Geological Survey in Nottingham last month (June) to open their new science building, said to be the largest wooden-framed open-plan office building in the UK.

Called the William Smith Building in recognition of the man who produced the first geological map of Britain in 1812, it provides 3,000m² of space for the BGS.

Built on Mountsorrel granite-filled gabbion walling, it incorporates cedar and terracotta cladding, sheep’s wool insulation, under-floor heating and an atrium covered with the same plastic panels used in the Eden project domes in Cornwall. It was built within two-years and under the £7million budget.

Inside the Atrium, the floor is Caithness flagstone supplied by Caithness Stone Industries and the walls include panels of Burlington’s Cumbrian slate, Elland Flagstone from WS Crossley, Ancaster limestone from Goldholme, Nottinghamshire’s Linby limestone from Linby Stone, Pennant sandstone from Gwrhyd and Welsh slate from Berwyn.