Construction Starts on ORNL Guest House
Computer rendering of the ORNL Guest House, scheduled for occupancy in early 2011
In February 2010, construction began on the ORNL Guest House, a new housing facility that will be open to researchers visiting ORNL user facilities next year.
The facility, which will feature 47 guest rooms, is being built on the SNS site, which is also home to the Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences and the Joint Institute for Neutron Sciences.
Construction on the $8.992 million building is expected to be completed by December 31, 2010. The target date for occupancy is early 2011.
“The facility is for use by all visitors to ORNL, not just users visiting SNS and CNMS,” said Samuel McKenzie, SNS Facility Operations Office.
The guest rooms will feature either a king-sized bed or two double beds. Other room features are expected to include a small refrigerator, microwave oven, TV, and internet access.
The building will also have a lounge area, conference room, fitness and laundry facilities, and a "mini-store" for the purchase of provisions.
The building is a LEED Silver Building, an environmentally advanced construction that meets the standard set by the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), part of the U.S. Green Building Council. The Knoxville firm of Benefield Richters CO is the architect, and Blaine Construction is building the facility.
The building is being funded by the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science.
