On April 24, Colorado State University reached a major milestone in the construction of the Advanced Technology Lasers for Applications and Science (ATLAS) Facility, celebrating the placement of the final structural steel beam on the CSU Foothills Campus. Colorado Gov. Jared Polis was in attendance.
This marks the completion of the structural steel system for the two-story, 77,626-square-foot facility, which will house three of the most powerful laser systems in the world and position CSU at the forefront of next-generation laser science.
Developed by Tetrad Real Estate, designed by SWBR and constructed by McCarthy Building Companies, the ATLAS Facility will accelerate research in fusion energy, advanced materials characterization and fundamental science. Fusion energy is a form of power generation that aims to recreate the process that powers the sun by fusing atomic nuclei together. If successful, laser-driven fusion energy promises to safely generate practically unlimited, sustainable, carbon-free energy.
“McCarthy’s Colorado team is proud to partner with CSU, Marvel Fusion, Tetrad and SWBR, whose contributions have been instrumental in bringing this groundbreaking facility to life,” said Tyler Richardson, senior vice president and business unit leader for Colorado at McCarthy Building Companies. “It represents a major step forward for the university and the broader scientific community.”
The milestone is an opportunity to recognize the national importance of the forthcoming ATLAS building and the ecosystem that will develop in Northern Colorado because of the facility, said Cassandra Moseley, vice president for research at CSU.
“As the United States works to lead in areas like fusion energy and directed-energy technologies, facilities like this are essential,” Moseley said. “ATLAS will serve as a critical testbed, bringing together academia, industry and government to accelerate innovation, strengthen energy security and ensure our competitiveness on a global stage. I’m grateful for our industry and federal partners who have been – and will be critical in making this vision for scientific progress a reality.”
The $160 million CSU ATLAS Facility is anchored by a first-of-its-kind public-private partnership between the university and Marvel Fusion, with additional collaboration from federal partners including the U.S. Department of Energy and Department of Defense. Designed as a testbed to advance critical emerging technologies, the facility will feature a unique cluster of high-intensity, high-repetition-rate lasers capable of firing simultaneously at a single target.
CSU’s leadership in laser research is primarily due to work by University Distinguished Professors Jorge Rocca and Carmen Menoni. Both are part of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, while Rocca also holds a position in the Department of Physics, and Menoni has a position in the Department of Chemistry. The pair have been leading interdisciplinary research on this topic at the university for years. Their existing and fruitful research partnerships with Marvel Fusion were the key reason the company chose to further invest in the university with the project.
The milestone caps a complex structural phase involving 590 tons of steel installed across five sequences. It follows an extensive foundation and concrete effort that included 7,355 cubic yards of concrete, delivered to the site by 736 concrete trucks.
With the structural frame complete, construction will move into enclosure, mechanical and electrical systems installation and the specialized interior buildout required for cleanroom and laboratory environments. The ATLAS Facility remains on track for substantial completion in December 2026.
