Building the future of Fermilab
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Randy Ortgiesen |
Randy Ortgiesen, head of OCSR, wrote this column.
As Fermilab and the Department of Energy continue to aggressively "make ready the laboratory" for implementing P5's recommendations, I can't help reflecting on all that has recently been accomplished to support the lab's future — both less visible projects and the big stuff. As we continue to build on these accomplishments, it's worth noting their breadth and how much headway we've made.
The development of the Muon Campus is proceeding at a healthy clip. Notable in its progress is the completion of the MC-1 Building and the cryogenic systems that support the Muon g-2 experiment. The soon-to-launch beamline enclosure construction project and soon-to-follow Mu2e building is also significant. And none of this could operate without the ongoing, complex accelerator work that will provide beam to these experiments.
Repurposing of the former CDF building for future heavy-assembly production space and offices is well under way, with more visible exterior improvements to begin soon.
The new remote operations center, ROC West, is open for business. Several experiments already operate from its new location adjacent to the Wilson Hall atrium.
The Wilson Street entrance security improvements, including a new guardhouse, are also welcome additions to improved site aesthetics and security operations. Plans for a more modern and improved Pine Street entrance are beginning as well.
The fully funded Science Laboratory Infrastructure project to replace the Master Substation and critical portions of the industrial cooling water system will mitigate the lab's largest infrastructure vulnerability for current and future lab operations. Construction is scheduled to start in summer 2015.
The short-baseline neutrino program is expected to start utility and site preparation very soon, with the start of the detector building construction following shortly thereafter. This is an important and significant part of the near-term future of the lab.
The start of a demolition program for excess older and inefficient facilities is very close. The program will begin with a portion of the trailers at both the CDF and DZero trailer complexes.
Space reconfiguration in Wilson Hall to house the new Neutrino Division and LBNF project offices is in the final planning stage and will also be starting soon.
The atrium improvements, with the reception desk, new lighting and more modern furniture create a more welcoming atmosphere.
And I started the article by mentioning planning for the "big stuff." The big stuff, as you may know, includes the lab's highest-priority project in developing a new central campus. This project is called the Center for Integrated Engineering Research, to be located just west of Wilson Hall. It will consolidate engineering resources from across the site to most efficiently plan for, construct and operate the P5 science projects. The highest-priority Technical Campus project, called the Industrial Center Building Addition, is urgently needed to expand production capacity for the equipment required for future science projects. And lastly the Scientific Hostel, or guest house, for which plans are also under way, will complete the Central Campus theme to "eat-sleep-work to drive discovery."
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