It was opened on 23 November 1962 for the Manchester College of Science and Technology (later UMIST) as part of a major expansion of its campus in the 1960s.

The foundation stone was laid on 24 June 1960 by Sir Charles Renold J.P. LL.D (1883–1967), Vice President of the college, and chairman of the planning and development committee, after whom it was named.

[1] The building, which is made of concrete, consists of a two-storey base supporting a six-storey tower.

Inside is an entrance hall on two levels with a large mural titled Metamorphosis, by Victor Pasmore.

According to Pevsner's Architectural Guide, "The idea was to provide a central facility for rooms that would otherwise have been dispersed amongst separate departmental buildings.