In 1988 Churchill College contacted the A.P. Møller & Chastine Mc-Kinney Møller Foundation, a Danish institution set up in 1953 by shipping magnate A.P. Møller, looking for funding for additional postgraduate student accommodation. The Foundation makes contributions to good causes, especially those involving national heritage, shipping, industry and science. Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller was keen to support a development at Churchill College because of the College's tradition of excellence in the fields of science and engineering, and in memory of Winston Churchill. He felt that Denmark's safety during the Second World War and prosperity afterwards, had depended on Churchill's personal involvement. When war broke out Maersk ships were turned over to the British authorities to assist in the War effort, and Churchill was swift to ensure the company was paid compensation at the end of the war. Having looked at the need for funding, Møller proposing the concept of a "Centre for Excellence" which would include meeting rooms, bedrooms and bring together commerce and education. He believed that with access to the full educational and research resources of Cambridge University, the Centre would be able to offer the highest standard of continuing education to international businesses wishing to develop their managerial, executive, research and development staff. In 1992, the Møller Centre was formally opened by Her MajestyQueen Ingrid of Denmark, located on the grounds of Churchill College in Cambridge. The foundation financed an expansion and improvement of the facilities in 2014-15.
Buildings
The main building was designed by a Danish Architect, Henning Larsen, with features of the Centre in typical Scandinavian design. The main building is made of Portland Stone and has teak floors throughout. The dominating element of the Centre is the octagonal tower - from the terrace on the top there is a view over the centre of Cambridge. According to the Centre, "in plan view, the building resembles a ship, with the tower acting as the propeller, and the lecture theatre as the bridge". The Møller Centre's facilities include 20 meeting rooms, 92 bedrooms, a restaurant, a bar and leisure facilities. It was expanded by the construction of the Study Centre in 2007, which included 14 additional meeting rooms, and was designed as a "collaborative learning environment".
