Sandia National Laboratories marked a major milestone on Apr. 14 with a ceremony celebrating the installation of the final beam on its new Power Sources Capability building, part of one of its largest construction projects in the past decade.
The event highlights progress on a facility that will replace an aging structure and is designed to support Sandia’s evolving missions for the next half-century. The new building is intended to centralize work that currently takes place across four separate facilities, enhancing efficiency and collaboration among staff.
Perry D’Antonio, senior manager overseeing technical requirements for the project, said, “We want to celebrate all the work that’s been done to date and reaffirm our commitment to delivering on the remaining work.” Construction began in August 2025 and has advanced ahead of schedule. Project manager Savannah Torres said, “We’ve met or exceeded all major milestones to date and intend to keep up the pace.” The 136,000-square-foot facility is expected to be completed in 2028 at a projected cost of $400 million.
Power sources developed at Sandia are essential for nuclear deterrence missions. Sara Pecak, senior manager, said, “Every system needs a power source. Our program spans four technology areas, including thermal batteries.” Pecak also noted unique requirements such as dehumidified rooms and explained that limited supplier options make it necessary for these capabilities to be maintained internally by Sandia.
D’Antonio described improvements from conceptual design efforts started in 2019: “We did a lot of value engineering from the original conceptual design.” He added that this approach preserves mission function while reducing costs and improving constructability. Torres pointed out strong collaboration with partners such as Hensel Phelps (general contractor), SmithGroup (architecture/engineering), and support from both Sandia teams and the National Nuclear Security Administration.
Sandia National Laboratories contributes to U.S. leadership in science and engineering through research partnerships according to its official website. The laboratory maintains sites not only in Albuquerque but also Livermore (California), Nevada, Hawaii, and Texas according to its official website. Managed by National Technology and Engineering Solutions of Sandia under contract with the Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration according to its official website, Sandia focuses on advancing national security through scientific efforts like nuclear deterrence according to its official website. It collaborates widely with industry, academia, and government agencies according to its official website.
Torres concluded about future impact: “This project not only delivers the facility needed to advance the power sources mission but also establishes a strong framework for future projects within Sandia’s multibillion-dollar line-item portfolio.”
