JE Dunn Construction, in collaboration with its design partner SmithGroup, has been selected by the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) to oversee the design and construction of a new research facility on the east side of NREL’s South Table Mountain Campus in Golden, Colorado.
The upcoming Energy Materials and Processing at Scale (EMAPS) laboratory, spanning 127,000 square feet, will be a prominent facility fostering collaboration with industry partners, universities, and other U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) laboratories. Its primary purpose is to expedite the transition of laboratory-scale innovations in energy materials into market-ready products and processes.
JE Dunn and SmithGroup had previously collaborated with NREL a decade ago to complete the Energy Systems Integration Facility (ESIF), a 180,000-square-foot research building directly adjacent to the future site of EMAPS on NREL’s South Table Mountain Campus.
Energy Materials and Processing at Scale (EMAPS) laboratory – Project Details
EMAPS is set to establish a direct path from bench-scale materials and process innovations to pilot-scale integration and production. The laboratory’s design is geared towards fostering a multidisciplinary approach to materials research and development (R&D), creating a collaborative environment for engineers, scientists, and industry partners to work together in shared laboratory facilities.
This collaborative setting aims to significantly expedite the process scale-up and market adoption of advanced energy materials crucial for a clean energy transition. The laboratory design is intended to maximize collaboration, encourage cross-functional innovation, and accelerate the translation of discoveries into market-relevant technology solutions.
The research capabilities and applications within the facility will contribute to materials and process innovations in areas such as energy storage, advanced manufacturing, grid modernization, and the development of net-zero chemicals and fuels for transportation and industrial decarbonization.
Additionally, the facility will address end-of-life and circularity challenges across various energy technology platforms, specifically focusing on polymers, packaging, and waste streams during and after production.
EMAPS Laboratory - LEED Certification
EMAPS is designed to attain at least LEEDTM Gold certification, showcasing a commitment to sustainable, high-performance design. The integration of advanced sustainability strategies and innovative energy efficiency approaches is considered essential for the success of the project.
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Energy Materials and Processing at Scale (EMAPS) laboratory – CCAA, a new contracting approach
JE Dunn has been engaged via the Cooperative Construction Contracting Approach (CCCA), a new contracting arrangement. The CCCA serves as an overarching contract vehicle, enabling NREL to streamline future construction contracting processes and enhance efficiency in contracting for large construction projects in the upcoming years. EMAPS will be the inaugural building designed and constructed under the CCCA agreement.
The Cooperative Construction Contracting Approach (CCCA) is a pilot program sanctioned by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). This initiative allows the department to collaborate with a single partner (subcontractor) for construction portfolio planning and executing projects exceeding or equal to $10 million.
