Last week, Stanford opened its new Nano Center, providing the University with access to one of the world’s most advanced nanotechnology facilities with future projects including better solar cells, more efficient batteries and more effective ways to detect cancers.

Although the idea for the Center, in development since 2007, stems from the needs of 77 labs across campus, creating just a single structure was necessary to protect the very expensive (each new tool ranges from $6 to $10 million) and sensitive equipment.

In fact, most of the two-story building was built underground in order to reduce vibration and temperature instability that could tamper with the equipment’s effectiveness. The Nano Center even has several “clean rooms” that are kept free of dust and allow researchers to work on any relevant elements unlike traditional “clean rooms” which only work for silicon.

While the Center’s staff has begun working with students and researchers, the building is not fully equipped. Machines and devices will continue to come in throughout the spring and summer quarters.