Mace appointed for Vulcan Laser Facility expansion and refurbishment

By Tom Kilkelly

12 October 2023

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Credit: Mace

The Mace construct team has been appointed to carry out the expansion and refurbishment of the existing Vulcan Laser Facility on the Harwell Science and Innovation Campus in Oxford.

This refurbishment is set to enhance the research capabilities of the existing Central Laser Facility. It will house the new Vulcan 20-20 laser, the most powerful laser in the world, which will help scientists in a number of fields including nuclear fusion, discovering renewable energy sources, and studying electromagnetic fields.

Mace will lead on the installation of two seven-meter-tall targeting bunkers, with walls and soffits up to 2.0 meters thick. These structures are made with a specialised radiation-resistant concrete mixture that can shield beams a billion times hotter than the brightest sunlight.

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Partnering with Mace are the Fairhurst Design Group (Architect), Glanville (civil and structural engineers), Hoare Lea (Mechanical and Electrical engineering), BB7 (fire engineering) and RSK (acoustic engineering).

Mace was appointed to the project by the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC).

Mace has been working with the STFC since 2017 and delivered three research facilities: the Rosalind Franklin Institute, the National Satellite Test Facility and the Extreme Photonics Applications Centre.

Terry Spraggett, Managing Director Public Sector Construction, Mace said: “We are thrilled to once again be working on such an exciting and important project for the STFC.

“I am proud that together with our partners we will play a part in delivering a project that will push the boundaries of science and research - enabling some of the key scientific breakthroughs of our time.’’

By Tom Kilkelly

Tom Kilkelly started working as a freelance journalist for The Business Magazine following his graduation from UCL in 2022.

During his studies Tom became very interested in the works of Irish authors including Samuel Beckett and Flann O'Brien (Brian O'Nolan).

His current role as a freelance business reporter is his first exposure to the world of business journalism. Working at TBM has given Tom the chance to really get to grips with the goings-on in the business hive that is the South East.