BATAVIA, III — DOE and Fermilab leadership, national and state legislators and scientists gathered April 13 to open the new Integrated Engineering Research Center (IERC) and PIP-II Cryogenic Plant Building as well as to start construction on the PIP-II Accelerator Complex.
The “Building Fermilab’s Future” ceremony was hosted by Fermilab and joined by notable attendees including Deputy Secretary of Energy David Turk, Illinois Gov. Pritzker, Representatives Bill Foster and Sean Caston and Fermilab Director Dr. Lia Merminga. Directors from the Fermi Research Alliance (FRA) Board also attended the event including URA President and CEO John Mester, University of Chicago President Paul Alivisatos (Chair), Juan J. de Pablo, David Mark, Sam Pitroda and Rolf Heuer.
Department of Energy Deputy Secretary David Turk speaks at the “Building Fermilab’s Future” ceremony. April 13, 2023. Photo: Ryan Postel / Fermilab
“I’m pleased to be a part of this important milestone, pointing the way to Fermilab’s exciting future,” said John Mester.
The new PIP-II Cryogenic Plant Building will house a cryogenic plant, an in-kind contribution from India’s Department of Atomic Energy. The Plant will provide the low-temperature environment required for the accelerator’s superconducting radio frequency cavities and will support the Proton Improvement Plan II (PIP-II), the main accelerator for DUNE.
Fermilab Director Dr. Lia Merminga (center right) and Deputy Secretary of Energy David Turk (center left) cut the ribbon to open Fermiilab’s new PIP-II Cryoplant Building accompanied by (left to right) Sean Casten, Gov. Pritzker, Bill Foster, University of Chicago President Paul Alivisatos, and Fermi Site Office Manager Roger Snyder. April 13, 2023. Photo: Ryan Postel / Fermilab
The IERC signifies a new era for Fermilab by serving as a central place for engineers and technicians to collaborate on particle physics for leading experiments such as the Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (DUNE) and proposed Cosmic Microwave Background Stage 4 (CMB-S4). The 80,000 square foot building will house state-of-the-art infrastructure for developing particle detectors supporting the progress of particle physics research.
Ceremonial groundbreaking of the PIP-II Accelerator Complex with distinguished guests. April 13, 2023. Photo: Ryan Postel / Fermilab
The ceremony also commemorated the groundbreaking for the planned PIP-II Accelerator Complex designed to hold DUNE’s PIP-II accelerator. PIP-II will produce the world’s most intense high-energy neutrino beam which will be directed 800 miles to the far detector at Sanford Underground Research Facility (SURF).
To learn more about the event visit Fermilab News