The Butler Institute was a human business corporation in the early 21st century headquartered in New York City. The company was secretly researching techniques for transfering human consciousness into computers as a means of avoiding the hazards of climate change and social collapse around the world, but this plan was defeated by the Seventh Doctor. (PROSE: Cat's Cradle: Warhead) In 2009, the Butler Institute building was not harmed by the atmospheric-cleaning fire created by the Tenth Doctor to avert the Sontaran invasion of Earth. (TV: The Poison Sky)