Add as a preferred source on Google

University of Rochester to Expand Laser Lab

  • By Matt Jones
  • 08/18/22

The University of Rochester in Rochester, N.Y., recently announced that ground has been broken on a $42-million expansion to its Laboratory for Laser Energetics. The 66,000-square-foot, three-story building will play home to lab and office space and feature amenities like a class 1000 target fabrication lab and thin coating film lab, wet labs, general lab space and a laser computing facility. Construction is set for completion in 2024, according to a news release.

The building will serve about 110 scientists and other LLE staff, and its largest lab space is set to house the AMICA laser system, a long-pulse laser that is being assembled for Stanford University’s SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory Matter at Extreme Condition Upgrade.

“The LLE’s work in high-energy-density science continues to grow with each new year, and now their physical footprint is catching up,” said University President Sarah Mangelsdorf. “The addition of these state-of-the-art facilities helps strengthen the LLE’s designation as one of the leading laser laboratories in the world and will provide space to support its expanding research agenda. It’s gratifying to see our community rally around the important scientific work that is being done here. I especially want to thank our elected officials for their leadership and advocacy on behalf of the LLE and the tremendous support we continue to receive due to their efforts.”

The University of Rochester is partnering with LeChase Construction and architecture firm Cannon Design. The LLE’s last expansion was in 2003 to house the OMEGA EP laser, according to the press release.

“The work done at University of Rochester’s Laboratory for Laser Energetics is essential for our national security and energy research and is vital to our regional economy, employing hundreds of scientists and bringing millions of dollars of investment into the Rochester area every year,” said U.S. Senator Charles Schumer. “That’s why year after year I’ve been proud to secure the vital federal funding that keeps them on the job to discover new innovations and support our nation. Now with this expansion, the University of Rochester is prioritizing the needs of the employees and students of LLE, and I applaud their efforts to ensure they can continue to focus on their groundbreaking research for years to come.”

About the Author

Matt Jones is senior editor of Spaces4Learning. He can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • textured paper collage shows a school building on fire as a fire truck sprays water into the flames

    Why a Fire Loss Is More than Flames

    We've all seen what fire damage can do to a property, but the types of damage building owners often encounter after a fire loss can exceed expectations. Having full awareness of the different forms of damage properties can sustain helps owners respond faster, reduce continued damage, and get back on the road to recovery in short order.

  • DLR Group Appoints New K–12 Education Practice Leader

    Integrated design firm DLR Group recently announced that it has named its new global K–12 Education leader, Senior Principal Carmen Wyckoff, AIA, LEED AP, according to a news release. Her teams have members in all 36 of the firm’s offices in the U.S., Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Europe, and Asia.

  • Construction Begins on East Austin CTE-Focused High School

    The Del Valle Independent School District recently announced that construction has begun on a new CTE-focused high school in Austin, Texas, according to a news release. Del Valle High School will measure in at 473,338 square feet and have the capacity for 2,400 students.

  • Texas State University Completes Stadium Renovations

    Texas State University in San Marcos, Texas, recently announced that it has completed a series of additions and renovations to its football stadium, according to a news release. Formerly known as the Bobcat Stadium End Zone Complex, the Johnny and Nathali Weisman Football Performance Center is an 85,000-square-foot expansion featuring hospitality spaces, banquet spaces, exterior concourses, and upgrades to the field house.

Digital Edition