The Oak Ridge National Laboratory will use a portion of its $71.2 million in federal economic stimulus funding to replace a half-century-old research building, managers said Monday.
“There is an emphasis on moving quickly,” Lab Director Thom Mason said.
Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced the award as part of $1.2 billion being distributed to national laboratories for major construction projects and infrastructure improvements.
The Oak Ridge lab, located about 20 miles west of Knoxville, has been planning for some time to build a 160,000-square-foot chemicals and materials research facility to replace a badly aging 1952 structure with leaking pipes and high heating costs.
The new building will house some 200 researchers studying solar batteries, corrosion-resistant materials and superconducting electric transmission lines.
Building designs are nearly complete and contractors have been selected. With Recovery Act funding, officials hope to complete the project a year early in 2011.
“This modernization effort will help keep ORNL as one of our nation’s premier laboratories,” said U.S. Rep. Zach Wamp, R-Tenn. It also will mean about 170 construction jobs.
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