FORT COLLINS, CO — Colorado State University has broken ground on its new Advanced Technology Lasers for Applications and Science (ATLAS) Facility on its Foothills Campus. This $150 million public-private partnership between CSU and Marvel Fusion allows the university to build a unique cluster of high-intensity, high-repetition lasers in collaboration with private industry and the federal government.
The public-private partnership selected McCarthy Building Companies as general contractor and SWBR as the architect for one of the most powerful laser research instillations in the world. The facility will focus on creating fusion energy as a viable clean energy source and the flexibility to study a range of topics related to matter interactions.
"McCarthy is honored to collaborate with Colorado State University, Tetrad, Marvel, CSU STRATA, our design partners led by SWBR, and many others to bring this groundbreaking facility to life for the university and its future students," said Joe Brunsman, Senior Vice President of McCarthy Building Companies Colorado. "We understand the transformative impact this facility will have, not only in advancing CSU’s reputation, but also in positioning Fort Collins as a global leader in fusion research."
Beyond fusion and basic science research, the ATLAS Facility will also support interdisciplinary work into topics like medicine where lasers could be used to deposit energy in a very localized region for tumor treatment. Other potential research at the facility includes microchip lithography and design and detailed x-ray imaging of rapidly moving objects such as airplane engine turbines in full motion. The facility will also broadly support fundamental science research.
In addition to research on fusion energy, the 71,000-square-foot facility will host innovative education and workforce development activities. The laser facility has over 7,500 cubic yards of concrete with 5-foot-thick shielding walls around the target bay and a 3-foot-thick slab below the laser and target bays for vibration isolation. The lab spaces will feature clean rooms up to ISO 6/Class 1,000, and the HVAC systems will maintain extreme tolerances to keep the laser systems functioning properly in temperature and humidity-controlled environments.
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Fusion energy is a form of power generation that aims to recreate the process that powers the sun by fusing atomic nuclei together. If successful, laser-driven fusion energy promises to safely generate practically unlimited, sustainable, carbon-free energy. When finished the facility will feature an upgraded version of an existing ultrahigh power laser developed at CSU in combination with two new lasers provided by Marvel Fusion. The new structure will be located near existing laser research focused buildings and will house related labs and offices.
The project is expected to be completed in mid-2026.
