Hendrick Construction, Inc. was awarded a contract to upgrade 14,000 square feet of lab space at Oak Ridge National Laboratory to further cutting-edge research at one of the world's most advanced scientific facilities.

The project, in Oak Ridge, Tenn., will create 13 new labs to support scientific research conducted at the Spallation Neutron Source (SNS), the world's most powerful source of neutrons for the study of materials. Scientific understanding of the molecular structure of materials is critical to the development of stronger, lighter and cheaper compounds for a variety of commercial, industrial and other applications.

Work at the SNS can result in advanced technologies, such as smaller computers with more memory, lightweight plastics for airplanes and pharmaceutical drugs.

"We're thrilled to win this contract and contribute to the development of one of the world's preeminent scientific research facilities," said Roger Hendrick, president of Hendrick Construction. "The work will be challenging, but we're prepared to maintain a safe environment and deliver the project on time."

The project is scheduled to be complete in spring 2010.

"Safe and efficient construction has been a hallmark of the Spallation Neutron Source, and the safety experience of Hendrick Construction, Inc. was a strong consideration in their selection for this project," said SNS Operations Manager Frank Kornegay. "The SNS staff looks forward to working with Hendrick to continue the outstanding safety performance associated with all SNS construction activities."

The SNS, completed in 2006, creates pulsed neutron beams in order to study the structural details of molecules. When fully operational, it will harbor 25 state-of-the-art scientific instruments and be used by scientists and engineers from universities, industries and laboratories around the world.

Hendrick Construction is renovating part of the second floor of the Spallation Neutron Source Central Lab and Office Building. The project, which is surrounded by other operational labs, includes the installation of x-ray, wet chemistry, magnetic materials characterization, protein crystallography and neutron optics labs.

The labs must be built to exacting specifications and provide a sterile environment for research. The project calls for the installation of various instruments and controls, as well as complex chemical storage, exhaust and ventilation systems.

Source: Hendrick Construction