In early 2020, construction began on a new facility in the center of PNNL’s (Pacific Northwest National Laboratory) Richland, WA campus. The Energy Sciences Capability Project will provide a location for synergistic research conducted by PNNL scientists at the University of Washington, Washington State University, and other partnering universities. The new $90 million facility will feature an energy and water-reducing design, which takes advantage of ample natural light as well as utilizing waste-heat energy generated by high-performance computers housed in a separate building. Inside the 137,0000 square foot facility, there will be labs and workstations provided for approximately 200 PNNL scientists, engineers, and research support staff. This project will include research to reduce vehicle emissions, such as carbon monoxide, developing more efficient ways to produce fertilizers for agricultural use, and turning waste into fuels more efficiently and economically. This project is scheduled for completion in 2021.
In March of 2020, Portland Bolt was contacted by the steel fabricator on this job to provide the anchor rods required. The anchor rods needed to meet the ASTM F1554 Grade 36 and Grade 55 specification and were threaded on each end. The diameters needed ranged from 7/8” through 1-1/4”. There were also square anchor plates, which needed to meet the ASTM A572 Grade 50 specification. Portland Bolt was a perfect choice as the bolt supplier with the entire fabrication process being done in-house. In total, approximately 6,000 pounds of custom anchor rods were shipped from Portland Bolt directly to the job site.