Labs Director Paul Robinson heads the list of speakers who will gather Nov. 8 to dedicate Sandia’s Processing & Environmental Technology Laboratory (PETL, Bldg. 701), a $45.9 million, 151,000-square-foot DOE facility that 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 Materials and Process Sciences Center 1800. “This unique new facility will serve our nation far into the 21st century.” In addition to Paul and Kay, VP Al Romig (1000) and DOE Kirtland Area Office Manager Michael Zamorski will speak at the dedication. Members of New Mexico’s congressional delegation also have been invited to deliver messages at the ceremony.

PETL (Lab News, March 24) is also an award-winner. It was one of six winners of DOE’s Program and Project Management Award 2000. And PETL construction project manager Bill Hendrick (7824) says the project received two other awards:

• 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. That system, designed by Jerry Savage (7823), serves 10 buildings with less expensive chilled water that is produced at night when electricity rates are low.

The system includes the million-gallon storage tank located south of PETL.

PETL occupancy began in July and the fence was moved to include the building inside Tech Area 1 on Oct. 9.

Deputy Director Jim Jellison (1801) says people working in the building are already praising 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.

Also, he says, 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.

All Sandians are invited to the ceremony, especially PETL residents and others who work closely with them. 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 promptly at 10 a.m.

Last modified: November 7, 2000