When complete, the ATLAS Facility is expected to house one of the most powerful laser systems in the world, supporting research in fusion energy, medicine and fundamental science. | Photo Credit (all): Courtesy of McCarthy Building Companies
- Colorado State University held an April 24 topping-out ceremony for the ATLAS Facility, a two-story laser research building on the Foothills Campus.
- The project team completed the structural steel frame for the 77,626-square-foot facility, with participants signing the final beam before placement.
- The $150 million public-private partnership includes CSU and Marvel Fusion, with additional support from the U.S. Department of Energy and other sources.
- Substantial completion is scheduled for December 2026, and the university anticipates an official opening in 2027.
- The specialized interior build-out will include cleanrooms and vibration-sensitive labs designed for high-performance laser research.
FORT COLLINS, Colo. — Colorado State University marked a major construction milestone April 24 with a topping-out ceremony for the Advanced Technology Lasers for Applications and Science, or ATLAS, Facility, a project officials say will become one of the world’s most advanced laser research centers.
The event recognized completion of the structural steel frame for the two-story, 77,626-square-foot building now rising on the university’s Foothills Campus near the Department of Atmospheric Science building. During the ceremony, faculty, students and staff were invited to sign the final beam before it was placed atop the structure, a longstanding construction tradition symbolizing progress and safety.
“As the United States works to lead in areas like fusion energy and directed-energy technologies, facilities like this are essential,” said Cassandra Moseley, Vice President for Research at CSU. “ATLAS will serve as a critical testbed, bringing together academia, industry and government to accelerate innovation, strengthen energy security and ensure our competitiveness on a global stage. I’m grateful for our industry and federal partners who have been — and will be critical in making this vision for scientific progress a reality…