In the past two years, the staff increases due to the new facilities initiative; the preparation for the installation of Beamline 11, and other operational needs have resulted in a number of facilities improvements at SSRL. We have added 3200 square feet of office space, approximately 7500 square feet of experimental floor area and enclosed equipment storage, and three additional alcoves. In addition to the construction of the new facilities, the removal of the old injection lines 15 & 16 has created an access to the west side of Building 131 and made available more open space for outdoor temporary storage.
With the anticipation of the increase of staffing in the early part of 1996, SSRL purchased a 40' x 80' modular office building and installed it between Trailer 271 and Trailer 294, just south of the Building 120 parking lot inside the fenced-off research area. Approximately 20 cubic yards of earth were removed to make room for the installation and to preserve vehicular access to the adjacent existing facilities. The new modular building is supported on reinforced concrete pier footings. This new structure contains 17 permanent-partition offices, one handicap-access restroom, light kitchen facilities and a conference room. The installation was completed in July 1996 and occupied immediately. A second turnstile gate was also installed at south end of the new modular office building to provide easier access from Building 137.
The concrete shielding of the entire Quadrant 1 of the Spear Ring was renovated to add three southarc alcoves for the straight sections 2S3, 3S4 and 4S5. The height of Quadrant 1 was also increased from 6'-6" to 10' in height. The project was completed in September 1995. In conjunction with the new alcove installation, the footprint of Building 131 was extended westward to provide more than 4000 square feet of experimental floor space and storage for equipment and experimental apparatus. This new metal building will house the future Beamline 11 which is scheduled to be installed in the next two years. This project was completed for occupancy at the end of 1995. In order to provide better and easier access to the western part of Building 131, the old injector lines 16 & amp; 17 were removed during the summer of 1996. The removal of the old injector lines also created some sorely needed temporary outdoor storage space.
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Frame work erection for the Buildings 120 and 131 connection looking from the trestle going down to SPEAR. |
The new modular office is a compound of four sections. One section was rigged on the foundation from the building 137 parking lot. |
As a result of the findings of the newly chartered " Seismic Evaluation Committee", Building 131 was identified as being in need of additional seismic upgrade to comply with the current seismic requirements. In July 1997, an earthquake brace, constructed with concrete encased structural beams, was installed at the northeast corner of 131.
In order to meet SSRL's continuing need for storage and equipment setup space, a smooth, weatherproof pathway between Building 120 & 131 was installed during the summer of 1996. The fabrication of a one story metal building with approximately 3500 square feet of area is scheduled to be completed here in November 1997. While this new extension is part of Building 131, it is directly connected to Building 120 with a weatherproof metal enclosure.
One other improvement of the SSRL facilities is somewhat subtle but significant. An air conditioning system was installed in Building 140, the injector building. In the past, during the hot days in the summer, the electronic equipment in 140 was very susceptible to failure due to high temperatures. The installation of the cooling system was completed in May 1996.
With the planned implementation of SPEAR3 and with the anticipated beamline installations and upgrades, SSRL can certainly envision a continuing process of facilities improvements in the coming years.
New 10' high concrete formwork for the South Arc alcove. |
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