Energy

Construction will begin in spring of 2012 on a flexible, modular laboratory at Dounreay Nuclear Site in Thurso, Scotland. Comprising 35 steel-framed modules, the facility will house six laboratories with gloveboxes, 36 fume hoods, and an advanced HEPA-filtered ventilation system. The $11.4 million construction contract was awarded to a consortium including Yorkon, Studsvik, JGC Engineering & Technical Services, and S&B UK. Completion is expected in fall of 2013.

Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory will begin building the User Test Bed facility in spring of 2012 in Berkeley, Calif. Supported by $15.9 million in federal stimulus funding, the reconfigurable facility will enable researchers and manufacturers to test building components and systems to optimize efficiency. The lab's walls, windows, lighting, offices, and HVAC system will be fully changeable to support building performance research. Completion is expected in spring of 2013.

The University of Houston is leveraging Aircuity’s OptiNet demand-control ventilation (DCV) system to develop a ventilation optimization program that will not only enhance indoor air quality, but significantly improve overall energy efficiency in its new 167,000-sf Health and Biomedical Science Center. When at full capacity, the annual energy savings for this facility are projected to be $239,270, which would give the project a simple return on investment of two years.

College of the Desert has selected HGA Architects and Engineers to create the master plan for its Palm Springs West Valley Campus in Palm Springs, Calif. Designed to produce more energy than it consumes, the 119-acre campus will include 420,000 sf of academic space and 230,000 sf of leasable public-private venture space. The first phase will provide 50,000 sf in several buildings, including the Desert Energy Enterprise Center for engineering training in solar and wind energy manufacturing.

Oak Ridge National Laboratory dedicated the $95 million Chemical and Materials Sciences Building in July of 2011. The three-story, 160,000-sf facility houses equipment suites, 56 laboratories, 164 offices, and 91 modular workstations for the development of advanced energy products and technologies. The Chemical and Material Sciences Building houses two DOE Energy Frontier Research Centers, the Center for Fluid Interface Reaction Structure and Transport (FIRST) and the Center for Defect Physics (CDP).

Bosch opened its photovoltaics competence center in July of 2011 in Arnstadt, Germany. The $757 million facility provides R&D and manufacturing space as well as housing the company’s solar energy division headquarters. The duration of construction was two years.

Semprius began construction in July of 2011 on a 150,000-sf photovoltaic manufacturing facility in Henderson, N.C. The first phase of the project includes renovation of an existing facility and construction of an additional 50,000 sf. Occupancy is expected in August of 2012. Semprius is based in Durham, N.C.

Sandia Labs is engaged in a $4.2 million renovation of the Battery Abuse Testing Laboratory in Albuquerque, N.M. Supported by federal stimulus funding, the project will enable the facility to test larger batteries for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles. The completed laboratory will house new spectrometers, laser diagnostics, and six accelerating rate calorimeters. Construction began on the renovation in December of 2010 with completion expected in late 2011. The Battery Abuse Testing Laboratory was built in 1991. 

The University of North Texas (UNT) broke ground on the Zero Energy Research Laboratory in Denton in July of 2011. Located in UNT’s Discovery Park, the 1,200-sf facility will include a utility core and an open flexible laboratory for sustainable energy and building systems research. The $1.15 million project is expected to reach completion in early 2012. Jacobs Engineering Group is the architect of record and the general contractor is Nouveau Construction. 

The Sustainable Energy Technology Center (SENTEC) is under construction in Danville, Va. The $8 million, 26,000-sf building is located at the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research and is affiliated with Virginia Tech. The center was designed by Dewberry with Lord, Aeck & Sargent as laboratory planner and Perigon as engineer.

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory’s Research Support Facility has attained LEED Platinum sustainable design certification. Located in Golden, Colo., the 222,000-sf project achieved all 59 targeted LEED points, including those for site selection, energy, materials and resources, and innovation. This is the highest score of the 10 U.S. federal facilities that have earned the LEED Platinum rating for new construction. The RSF also had a perfect score in the energy category, achieving all 17 points.

Argonne National Laboratory broke ground on the $95 million Energy Sciences Building in June of 2011. The facility will support research on advanced batteries, fuels, and photovoltaics. Completion is expected in 2013. LEED sustainable design certification will be sought for the project.

Clemson University is building a wind turbine drivetrain testing facility in North Charleston, S.C. The project team includes AEC Engineering and Choate Construction. The $98 million project involves conversion of an existing warehouse to provide research, development, and testing space for offshore wind turbines. LEED Silver sustainable design certification will be sought for the facility. Completion is expected in late 2012. 

Siemens Energy began construction in May of 2011 on a wind service distribution center in Woodward, Okla. The 64,000-sf project will include two buildings to supply customers and industry partners with turbine blades, drive assemblies, and generators. Completion is expected in late 2011.

AREVA will begin construction in spring of 2012 on the three-story, 650,000-sf Uranium Enrichment Facility near Idaho Falls, Idaho. The plant is expected to be operational in 2015. The project is supported by a $2 billion loan from the U.S. Department of Energy.