The U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL) celebrated a significant milestone in the construction of the Princeton Plasma Innovation Center (PPIC) with a topping-out ceremony on Nov. 12.
The last structural beam was lifted and placed on the building, marking a symbolic moment known in the construction industry as a "topping out." The beam, which contained dozens of signatures, was first signed by U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright during his visit to PPPL and later by the PPIC project team, trusted partners and key stakeholders.
The new building will support science advancing the DOE's national priorities of AI, fusion and quantum, strengthening U.S. competitiveness. Representatives from PPPL, DOE, Princeton University, SmithGroup and INTECH Construction gathered for the event, which was held near the PPIC construction site. The event was open to all Lab staff, with reserved seating for members of the PPIC project team.
"PPPL is known for its excellence in theoretical physics, engineering and making scientific advances that no one else could have made. This new hub will help us continue this proud tradition, leading to new research findings, supporting new experiments and collaborations, and housing more talented, dedicated staff," said Steve Cowley, Laboratory director at PPPL.
"Making sure that America's national laboratories have the facilities they need to carry out their unique, groundbreaking research is a DOE priority," said Amro Habib, deputy manager of the Princeton Site Office. "The completion of PPIC's steel structure is one example of what can happen when we work together to further this goal."
Catch a birds-eye view from the perspective of the final steel beam that was lifted into place at the topping-out ceremony for PPIC. (Video credit: Michael Livingston / PPPL Communications Department)
Modernizing PPPL for the next era of scientific discovery
A 71,000-square-foot facility, PPIC will feature 23 adaptable, state-of-the-art laboratories, collaboration and visualization spaces, and offices. It's the Lab's first new building in several decades, serving as an international hub of fusion research and providing ample lab space for PPPL's expansion into microelectronics, quantum sensors and devices, electromanufacturing and aerosol science.
The facility will feature unique laboratories housing advanced low-temperature plasma and other electricity-driven research experiments, along with industrial-class processing reactors. Low-temperature plasmas are essential to semiconductor manufacturing, enabling the production of next-generation computer chips. Using advanced laser diagnostics on these reactors, coupled with real-time multiscale modeling, scientists will be able to better understand how low-temperature plasmas interact with materials and how to control their interaction down to the scale of the atom for materials critical to industry.
As the Lab advances research in quantum science, the new labs in PPIC will allow researchers to precisely synthesize and examine materials at the smallest scales - from single atoms to quantum properties - using specialty gases that support high-power and radiation-hardened electronics, quantum sensors and other devices. The PPIC hub will also explore new electricity-driven chemical and material manufacturing techniques and properties of aerosols, furthering PPPL's diversified research portfolio.
Focus will also be maintained on PPPL's fusion mission with eight National Spherical Torus Experiment-Upgrade (NSTX-U) diagnostic labs to prototype, deploy and calibrate diagnostics, enable rapid repairs, minimize downtime and maximize performance of the diagnostics. These labs will be utilized by PPPL diagnostics personnel and those from collaborating institutions. They will play an important role in supporting the NSTX-U research program and will be utilized soon after the PPIC building is ready to be occupied.
PPIC will serve as the new "town center" of PPPL's campus. The building features two wings positioned at an angle and adjoined by a connector wing, which will include a new café. A courtyard is positioned between the wings, providing green space and light. Designed with brightness in mind, the building draws inspiration from colors related to fusion energy and will feature yellows, oranges and pinks in some of its building accents.
A rendering of PPIC shows its two wings, which will support fusion research and the Lab's expanded mission into microelectronics, quantum sensors and devices, electromanufacturing and aerosol science studies. (Photo courtesy of SmithGroup)
The building was designed by SmithGroup, a firm with extensive experience in laboratory and academic architecture, and is being built by INTECH Construction, based out of Philadelphia. "While we are not right next door, we consider ourselves neighbors to Princeton. Partnering on the Princeton Plasma Innovation Center not only connects us geographically but also through a shared mission: advancing science and research," said Colleen Mills, associate principal and project director at INTECH Construction.
"INTECH has been a tremendous partner and is performing well, ensuring we stay on schedule and do work with safety at the forefront," said Dennis Pasternak, project manager of PPIC. Pasternak said construction on older sites entails extensive contingency planning to address unforeseen challenges. The PPIC project team and INTECH Construction have anticipated these challenges from the beginning and proactively managed them to stay on track.
From left: Tom McNeil, Stefan Hunsbedt, Steve Langish, Dennis Pasternak and Gjergj Shota, PPIC project team. (Photo credit: Michael Livingston / PPPL Communications Department)
During her remarks, Mills recognized the PPPL and INTECH Construction teams' extraordinary efforts, especially related to safety. To date, the project has completed hundreds of man-hours without a single recordable or lost-time incident. "This is an impressive statistic and speaks to the strong focus on safety as we celebrate this important milestone," Mills said.
Construction for PPIC began in 2024 with a teardown of two buildings that dated back to the 1950s: the Theory Wing and part of the Lyman Spitzer Building (LSB) Administration Wing. In May 2024, the Laboratory hosted a groundbreaking ceremony to mark the start of work, which included state and local officials, as well as leaders from PPPL, DOE and Princeton University. Structural steel erection began in the summer of 2025. Steel detailing work will wrap up in the winter of 2025 into 2026. Construction of the exterior building will be largely complete by spring 2026. The entire project is scheduled to conclude in 2027.
Transformative investments supporting PPPL's leadership and growth
A $109.7 million project, PPIC exemplifies how infrastructure investments can translate into real-world impact. This funding comes from the DOE's Science Laboratories Infrastructure (SLI) program, and a $10 million contribution from Princeton University was used to jumpstart construction activities. The project heralds a new era for PPPL, expanding the Lab's portfolio and acting as a beacon for top talent and ideas.
The effort also celebrates the power of strong partnerships, involving multiple DOE Office of Science programs, including SLI, Fusion Energy Sciences, Basic Energy Sciences and the Princeton Site Office. All have combined forces to drive success with construction, said Tim Meyer, deputy director for operations and chief operating officer.
"A construction effort like this is only possible with the support of our partners," said Meyer. "This commitment ensures we have the infrastructure needed to lead in areas of national importance."
"The University was honored to be able to provide $10 million in initial seed funding for this state-of-the-art facility, which, when completed, will enable generations of new research involving collaborations with the University, other institutions across the country and with scientific organizations around the world," said Peter Schiffer, dean for research, vice president for PPPL and Class of 1909 Professor of Physics at Princeton University.
The project also solidified Princeton's position as the most geothermally dense community in the nation. Additional funding from Assisting Federal Facilities with Energy Conservation Technologies, also known as AFFECT, supported the construction of more than 118 geothermal wells, which will supply heating and cooling to the future building.
VIDEO: A Geothermal Exchange for PPIC
The next big PPIC milestone comes in the fall of 2025 with the start of the building envelope - the creation of the outer shell of the building - in November, followed by completing the concrete slab pours later that month. By May 2026, the building will be fully enclosed and weather tight. The project will then move into advanced systems work, with heating, ventilation and air-conditioning to start in fall 2026. The schedule remains on track for substantial completion by January 2027.
"PPIC is heralding a new era of scientific discovery at our Laboratory. This is more than a building; it's a statement about where PPPL is headed," Meyer said.
Tim Meyer, deputy director for operations and chief operating officer, spoke at the PPIC topping-out ceremony. (Photo credit: Michael Livingston / PPPL Communications Department)
