Current work on the National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory addition revolves around creating the office area for physicists. The steel structure is up, and concrete floors will be poured next, according to Sharon Joy, the EAS planner/inspector/analyst II working on the project. Joy is happy how the addition is going, commenting that it is on schedule and hitting its budget. She said there are around 50 construction workers on the job, with Granger Construction Company as the construction manager.

The $16 million venture started last summer in hopes that it would help convince the Department of Energy that MSU was committed to attaining the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams (FRIB). The work paid off, as the DOE announced MSU was the future FRIB site in mid-December.

“We were all absolutely elated,” said Joy about MSU landing the FRIB project. MSU was awarded the facility after 40 representatives from the DOE visited campus for a tour, which included a viewing of the work done on the Cyclotron addition and presentations from the Physical Plant’s Bob Ellerhorst and Bob Nestle, who highlighted the skill and experience of Physical Plant employees who will be actively involved in designing, building and maintaining the $550 million facility.

Keep up on the progress of the Cyclotron addition at construction.msu.edu

January 8, 2009