University of Chicago PRC Welcome Reception 

Berglund Construction recently completed the renovation and two-story vertical expansion of the existing University of Chicago Physics Research Center.

The building now houses the University’s Laboratory for Astrophysics & Space Research. This facility is more responsive to the future of experimental and theoretical physics and reinforces the evolving campus context. Between the lower level and the first and second floors, 38,500 SF have been renovated. This includes all new mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems, elevators and interior partitions. The project also added 25,00 SF of space on new two floors built on top of the existing building to complete the 63,500 sqft project. The building is LEED Silver and features sustainable high-efficiency chilled beam mechanical systems, LED lighting and green roof systems.

On October 3, LASR celebrated the informal opening of the Physics Research Center, the new home for the Enrico Fermi Institute and the Physics Department’s Kadanoff Center for Theoretical Physics. The program included remarks from Rocky Kolb, Daniel Diermeier, Emil Martinee, Nathaniel Koschmann, Young-Kee Kim, Scott Wakely and Emil Martinec.

The new building is located at 5801 S. Ellis Ave. Chicago, IL.

Check out the time-lapse video below!

The opening of the Physics Research Center is an important step forward for the Physical Sciences Division. People make dis­cov­er­ies and advance science, not buildings. But the right envi­ron­ment helps foster a col­lab­o­ra­tive, inter­dis­ci­pli­nary approach that’s essential to sci­en­tif­ic breakthroughs.”

Prof. Edward W. “Rocky” Kolb

Dean of the Division of the Physical Sciences