Sixty fire fighters and 10 engines battled to bring the fierce blaze under under control but they were unable to save the timber building.

The project was part funded by GlaxoSmithKlein and was billed to be the world’s first zero carbon chemistry laboratory.

Instead it has highlighted how vulnerable timber-frame structures are to fire during the construction phase.

The building, said to be 70% complete, was due to be completed next year.

Blaze rapidly engulfs engineered timber columns and beams fitted with laminated panels.

Fire fighters still making the Jubilee Campus site safe on Saturday morning

Building completely destroyed

Morgan Sindall had completed the shell for Nottingham University and was working on the fit-out stage of the timber structure.

A spokesperson for Morgan Sindall said: “Everyone on the project team has been working hard to deliver this state-of-the-art low carbon laboratory for the University and we are of course greatly saddened to see the devastation caused by the fire.

“We are supporting the fire service investigation into the cause of the incident and thank its officers for their efforts last night to tackle and contain the blaze.”

Fire fighters across the region were called out to tackle the blaze at 8.30pm on Friday.

Nottingham Fire and Rescue group manager Joanne Wooler-Ward said: “The firefighters have worked hard to contain the fire and stop it from spreading to any other buildings.

“Members of the public might have been quite alarmed when they heard a loud bang that some thought was an explosion – that’s something that happens to buildings when they’re exposed to extreme heat and pressure but that’s a risk that we manage and are trained to deal with.”

The university said it aimed to rebuild the centre.

The project was being managed by Gleeds and the project team includes quantity surveyors Northcroft Services, structural engineers Aecom and CDM Co-ordinator WSP.

Investigations will start today into the cause of the blaze.