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PULSE Receives DOE OK to Begin Renovations

PULSE will occupy the two-story wing of Building 40 (center left). (Click for larger image.)

Construction will soon be underway on new offices and laboratories for the Photon Ultrafast Laser Science and Engineering center. Last Thursday, the PULSE building renovation project received Department of Energy approval to begin work on the first of two phases of construction.

"This is a key milestone in creating a vibrant scientific center for PULSE," said SLAC Director Persis Drell. "We look forward to having these new facilities available for SLAC scientists." PULSE research will focus on ultrafast structural and electronic behavior of materials using the powerful X-rays of the Linac Coherent Light Source.

The PULSE Center will occupy 30,300 square feet of existing space in the two-story wing of SLAC's Building 40, which also houses the SLAC director's office. The initial renovations, or Phase A, will include demolition of interior walls, utilities upgrades, and construction of three laboratories (two laser labs and one molecular biology lab) and nine supporting offices. The new space is scheduled to be available for limited use in late spring of 2009. Phase B—slated for DOE review in early 2009—will complete an additional four ultrafast laser laboratories, three biology laboratories, one chemistry laboratory and offices for staff, post-doctoral researchers and students. In addition, the project includes installation of new heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems.

The DOE signoff included two major milestones: Critical Decision 2A, approving detailed project designs, budget and schedules, and Critical Decision 3A, formally allowing the launch of construction activities.

"A lot of hard work has gone into getting to this point," said Associate Laboratory Director Lowell Klaisner, who heads up SLAC engineering and technical support and helped to shepherd the project through the approval process. "The team should be proud. Now construction can begin."

—Shawne Workman
  SLAC Today, September 8, 2008