• 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. 鈥� 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鈥檚 most advanced laser research centers.听

The event recognized completion of the structural steel frame for the two-story, 77,626-square-foot building now rising on the university鈥檚 Foothills Campus near the Department of Atmospheric Science building. During the ceremony, faculty,听students听and staff were invited to sign the final beam before it was placed atop the structure, a longstanding construction tradition symbolizing progress and safety.听

鈥淎s the United States works to lead in areas like fusion energy and directed-energy technologies, facilities like this are essential,鈥� said Cassandra Moseley, Vice President for Research at CSU. 鈥淎TLAS 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鈥檓 grateful for our industry and federal partners who have been 鈥� and will be critical in making this vision for scientific progress a reality.

When complete, the ATLAS Facility is expected to house one of the most powerful laser systems in the world, supporting research in听fusion听energy,听medicine听and fundamental science. University leaders have said the project is intended to position Colorado State as a global hub for next-generation laser science and related technologies.听

The project is being delivered through a $150 million public-private partnership involving Colorado State University and Marvel Fusion, with听additional听support from the U.S. Department of Energy and other funding sources. The facility was developed by Tetrad Real Estate, designed by architecture and engineering firm SWBR, and is being built by McCarthy Building Companies.听

Ground听was broken on the project in fall 2024. Substantial completion is scheduled for December 2026, with an official opening听anticipated听in 2027.听

With the steel frame now in place, construction will shift to听enclosure听of the building exterior, followed by installation of mechanical,听electrical听and plumbing systems. Crews will then begin the specialized interior build-out听required听for high-performance research operations, including cleanrooms, vibration-sensitive laboratories and precision environments needed to support advanced laser equipment.听

Facilities of this type typically require stringent environmental controls to听maintain听stable temperature,听humidity听and air quality, while also minimizing vibration and electromagnetic interference that could affect experiments.听Those technical requirements often make research laboratories more complex than conventional academic buildings.听

University officials have said the ATLAS Facility will expand Colorado State鈥檚 long-standing leadership in laser and plasma science while creating opportunities for faculty recruitment, student听training听and industry collaboration. The project听also is听expected to attract visiting researchers and federal research partnerships.听

Fusion energy research has drawn increasing international attention in recent years as governments, universities and private companies pursue technologies that could provide large-scale carbon-free power. Laser-based systems are among several approaches under development to achieve controlled fusion reactions.听

Beyond research, the facility is expected to generate economic benefits for the Fort Collins region during both construction and operation. Large capital projects typically support jobs across the design,听engineering听and construction sectors, while new research infrastructure can create longer-term demand for technical talent,听suppliers听and related business activity.听

The topping-out ceremony also highlighted continued momentum on Colorado State鈥檚 Foothills Campus, which has become a center for research initiatives tied to engineering, atmospheric science,听energy听and technology.听

Once operational, ATLAS is expected to serve as a flagship asset for the university and a prominent addition to the state鈥檚 research infrastructure. Officials say the facility鈥檚 combination of scale, technical sophistication and partnerships could make it a significant contributor to scientific discovery for years to come.听

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Using a Collaborative Design-Build approach, McCarthy plans to deliver a new campus that consists of two classroom buildings and a third administration building that will include a kitchen and flexible, multipurpose space to accommodate the shifting needs of the students and staff. Flexible furniture, multiple writing walls and open spaces for collaboration are key features throughout the facility. A new off-street driving lane for student pick-up and drop-off will also be included to provide additional safety and alleviate road congestion during peak traffic times. Funding for the campus upgrades are supported by Measure P, which voters approved in 2016.

Reflecting the district鈥檚 focus on collaborative learning with the Collaborative Design-Build delivery model, the team ultimately arrived at a solution that embraced the end-user and school administration goals established. As part of the school鈥檚 recent Open House festivities, McCarthy unveiled a preview of the updated design with a virtual reality walkthrough, which was received with enthusiasm and excitement from students and parents.

鈥淒el Paso Manor is a cornerstone component of the neighborhood, and we worked closely with the broader community to determine the overall needs and features that would best serve all of the project鈥檚 end-users,鈥� said Senior Project Manager Andrew Dessling with McCarthy. 鈥淭he upgrade to all new facilities allows the district to truly support its educational philosophy that ensures students reach their highest academic, social and intellectual potential in a modern, safe environment.鈥�

Construction will begin on October 15, 2018.

McCarthy Building Companies, Inc. is the oldest privately held national construction company in the country, and the firm has offices in St. Louis; Atlanta; Collinsville, Ill.; Portage, Ind.; Kansas City, Kan.; Phoenix; Las Vegas; Denver; Dallas, Houston; Albuquerque; San Diego, Newport Beach, San Francisco, San Jose and Sacramento, Calif.

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