Caltech to Open New Center for Quantum Measurement

The Dr. Allen and Charlotte Ginsburg Center for Quantum Precision Measurement at Caltech in Pasadena will house sections of the physics department in subterranean labs filled with specialized space for experimentalists who require unique instrumentation with stringent specifications, which in large part drove the design of the facility. The four upper levels of the new 70,000-sf facility will include multipurpose space for seminars, lectures, and special events; and office workspace for theoretical physicists. It will also feature collaboration areas aimed at bringing experimentalists and theorists together. Currently under construction, the building is expected to open in the summer of 2026.

Research will focus on Quantum Physics, including issues such as understanding complex quantum systems, development of gravitational wave detections, theory of fundamental particles, and the development and use of specialized lasers. Cutting-edge research is nothing new to the school, which has dozens of National Medal of Science recipients and Nobel laureates among its faculty and alumni. With 5,800 students and 300 faculty, the school currently boasts a 3:1 student-to-faculty ratio; approximately 40% of its facilities are labs.

Overcoming Historical Constraints 

The location of the new building in the historic section of campus presented several challenges, explains Leandra Davis, executive director of planning, design, and construction for Caltech. Utilities had to be brought from other areas of campus, because the previous building used old chilled water lines and did not have nearly enough electrical support, which added to the cost of preparing the site. In addition, the site is very compact, sandwiched between several existing buildings and bounded by California Boulevard, one of Pasadena’s busiest streets. 

To get final approval from Pasadena’s Design Commission and a nonprofit called Pasadena Heritage, Caltech agreed to remove portions of a historical wall near the site, catalogue all the pieces, and store them during construction, after which the wall will be reconstructed to meet historical standards.

Despite the challenges, this site proved to be the best choice because of its proximity to three nearby Caltech facilities housing similar areas of research. “Our faculty feel very strongly that they need to be able to easily connect with peers,” says Davis. The Ginsburg Center will be linked to nearby buildings by a bridge and a tunnel, design elements used by Caltech throughout campus to encourage productivity and collaboration. 

Designing for Maximum Flexibility 

“Since the historical restrictions stipulate that a structure’s height can be no taller than any adjacent building, we located the labs underground giving us the ability to go deeper rather than taller and providing for future flexibility” says Jessica Ginther, senior associate and project manager for HOK, the architectural design firm for the project. 

All labs are located 28 feet below grade with a 3-foot contiguous slab beneath the entire lab area to maximize vibration control. The facility—which will have significant power and data structure, including pathways for fiberoptics—will house seven labs and shelled space for future build-out. 

“Using that slab thickness over the full length of a facility is very unusual,” says Leslie Ashor, director of science and technology for HOK. “More commonly, thicker slabs are added to only small sections of certain labs, but since research is changing at such a rapid pace, investing in the future frequently means building a little more robustness into the entire lab. 

“It’s a sensitive balance between designing an environment that is flexible enough to support the equipment needed now and in the near future, without over-designing or over-specifying utilities,” she says. 

Ashor adds that quantum sciences always drive significant space performance requirements, which the Ginsburg Center will fulfill. 

Unique Space Performance Considerations 

Clean High Bay Needs – According to Ashor, every researcher has a different definition of how clean is clean and how high is high. The Ginsburg Center’s flexible basement superstructure will allow the space to adapt to future labs that might require a stricter level of clean or higher bay space for different instrumentation. 

Vibration and Noise Isolation – HOK worked with acoustical specialists Colin Gordon Associates (CGA), to evaluate vibration at the site and employ mitigation techniques to meet the project vibration criteria. The proximity to California Boulevard means that vibration from large trucks and buses is of concern in several sensitive laboratories. “In addition, instrumentation in one of the labs requires adherence to NIST-A, which is much more stringent than the VC curves most people are familiar with at very low frequencies where vehicle traffic is most impactful,” says Steve Lank, vice president for CGA

He adds that the thick slab and subterranean location of the labs help to temper vibration from traffic at the surface, while structural separation is also provided from vibration sources within the building, such as the mechanical rooms. “Vibration and noise from the building mechanical equipment had to be carefully controlled, requiring a significant amount of attenuation of HVAC noise, along with requirements for vibration isolation on rotating equipment that exceeded those required for a more typical facility,” says Lank. He adds that several labs also use supplemental vibration isolators for extremely sensitive instrumentation.

Labs that contain louder, noisier equipment are collocated and surrounded by heavy, double-stud walls. “Significant attention to detail was required for any openings and penetrations through these walls to maintain the vibration and acoustic performance,” says Lank.

EMI & RFI Mitigation –Vitatech, an EMI consultant working with HOK, conducted an analysis of where electromagnetic interference (EMI) occurs in the subterranean level. The most sensitive labs will be placed at least 75 feet from the elevator, a large source of EMI. 

In addition, specialty boxes are built around electrical panels in the corridor so that neither EMI nor radio frequency interference (RFI) is emitted into the labs. When necessary, researchers also shield their own equipment with Faraday copper cages. 

Zero Natural Light Spaces – Several labs will provide dark conditions for research that requires that no outside light interfere. Ashor explains that the subterranean location, at 28 feet below grade, already guarantees less influence from the outside world, but double doors with sealed frames add an extra layer of protection. 

Temperature, Humidity, and Cleanliness Control – Local units in the mechanical mezzanine directly above lab spaces provide a high level of temperature, humidity, and cleanliness control. Lab instruments that require an additional level of control will be housed in separate enclosures with their own HEPA filtration and air controls. “These enclosures are not common practice in traditional optical labs but are necessary to meet the 0.1-degree-F-stability-over-time requirement. The large mechanical mezzanine allows for the flexibility to install dedicated AHUs for these enclosures,” says Davis. 

“Waterproofing any basement is standard practice, but because of the precision of these lab spaces, we are taking extra precautions to prevent any water exchange within the walls and slabs,” says Ginther. “To ensure that the humidity is maintained at a precise level, we are creating a water and vapor barrier from multiple layers of very thick plastic material that will be welded together and placed on all six sides of the subterranean level.” 

The facility uses local recirculating chillers that need to be drained to avoid contamination. Rather than traditional hardline drains, HOK recommended putting floor drains in a line all the way across the lab level, purposely located outside of the doorways, to mitigate contamination and other challenges associated with hard drains. 

“Trenching in new drains in the future would be very expensive, so we want to make sure we are building in this type of flexibility now,” says Davis. "We are also installing poured concrete floors and curbs in the mechanical mezzanine with integrated drain lines to prevent water intrusion from all angles."

Anterooms to Control Airflow and Cleanliness –  The facility’s anterooms will help maintain stringent temperature, humidity control, and cleanliness requirements by controlling the airflow allowed into the lab space. The anterooms also provide direct access for moving large equipment and instrumentation.  

Significant Power and Data Infrastructure –  Caltech is taking steps to ensure that the new facility has the infrastructure needed to meet the extremely heavy power and data requirements these specialty labs require, including pathways for fiberoptic cable.  

“Even though the capacity and capability being built into this facility may exceed what is needed today, we value the hyperflexibility it provides for future change and growth,” says Davis. 

By Amy Cammell