The world's most powerful, non-classified supercomputer occupies about 16,000 sf in a former Wells Fargo branch building that sits at the corner of 20th and Franklin streets, according to Ron Kolb, communications director for Lawrence Berkeley Lab.

In this new off-campus venture, the lab will occupy an additional 4,000 sf over the next two years giving the supercomputer facility full occupancy of the two lower floors in the four-story, 27,000 sf building. The third and fourth floors of the building will eventually be occupied by the University of California to house a digital library and computing support offices.

The supercomputer center is called the National Energy Research Scientific Computing Center and is being run by Lawrence Berkeley lab for the US Department of Energy. The center will serve as a hub for scientists and researchers who will apply to use the computer to study everything from global warming to new energy generation technology.