Processing
& Environmental Technology Laboratory to be formally dedicated
Nov. 8
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.Sandia National Laboratories Director
C. Paul Robinson heads the list of speakers who will dedicate
Sandia's $45.9 million, 151,000-square-foot Processing &
Environmental Technology Laboratory (PETL) Nov. 8. The Department
of Energy (DOE) facility provides materials support for
nuclear weapons design, manufacture, surveillance, maintenance,
and dismantlement.
"PETL is an extraordinary resource that not only provides
new opportunities for Sandians to exercise their creativity,
but also affords an extremely safe working environment,"
says Kay Hays, Director of Sandia's Materials and Process
Sciences Center. "This unique new facility will serve our
nation far into the 21st century."
Sandia Vice President for Science, Technology & Components
Al Romig and DOE Kirtland Area Office Manager Michael Zamorski
also will speak at the dedication and members of New Mexico's
congressional delegation have been invited to deliver messages
at the ceremony.
PETL is an award-winner: It was one of six winners of DOE's
Program and Project Management Award 2000. Two other awards
it won were:
- The 1999 Excellence in Concrete award from the New Mexico
Chapter of the American Concrete Institute, for PETL's
concrete structure and precast concrete exterior finish.
- And the Energy Project of the Year award from the New
Mexico Chapter of the Association of Energy Engineers,
for its chilled water thermal energy storage system. The
system serves 10 buildings with less-expensive chilled
water that is produced at night when electricity rates
are low. The system includes the one-million-gallon storage
tank located south of PETL.
PETL occupancy began in July and the fence was moved to
include the building inside the Labs' restricted Tech Area
1 on Oct. 9.
Materials and Process Sciences Center Deputy Director
Jim Jellison says people working in the building praise
it as a pleasant place to work because of abundant natural
lighting, easy path-finding, great proximity of staff and
manager offices to the labs, and attractive surroundings.
In response to DOE's desire to create a working environment
conducive to teaming, the PETL design incorporates two video
conference rooms, numerous breakout areas, small conference
rooms, and even a strategically located multipurpose room
that can be used for lunches, informal meetings, and special
events.
The Tacos - the New Mexico Air National Guard F-16 wing
- will add a little excitement with a flyover just minutes
after the ceremony begins at 10 a.m.
Media contact:
Howard Kercheval, hckerch@sandia.gov,
(505) 844-7842
|