New Construction

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.”