Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory (Fermilab), located in Batavia, Illinois, 40 miles west of Chicago, is a United States Department of Energy national laboratory specializing in high-energy particle physics.

As part of the Short Baseline Neutrino (SBN) program at Fermilab a 20.10' x 23.9' bifold liftstrap door was installed in the new 4,500 sq. ft. SBN Near Detector Building. The door features gray liftstraps, electric photo eye sensors, warning lights and horns, a top-drive motor, automatic latching system and an emergency back-up system. The door is clad with glass on the bottom quarter and high performance light transmitting panels covering the top three-quarters of the door, both to identically match the adjacent east wall of the building.

Holabird & dRoot Architects of Chicago, who received a Gold Award from Licensed Architect magazine, recommended a bifold door for the new building. They entered it for another award from Chicago Building Congress; an association that includes contractors and the whole building industry. They used a team of about six architects to design the two new buildings constructed as part of the SBN program. The door was installed by Vissering Construction of Streator, Illinois.

"In this case we had to have a large door opening where a sectional or accordion door wouldn't work. I also like that you can put the same matching glass curtain wall facade on the door. We installed the door, it went OK and the directions were easy to follow," said Vissering Project Manager Michael Slagel.

Fermilab Project Manager for Conventional Facilities, Steve Dixon, said he agreed that the bifold door meets the program requirements for a large clear opening. "Holabird & Root came up with the idea of using the bifold door since it met our requirements for a building that was simple, cost effective and attractive," said Dixon.

Holabird Managing Principal Architect, Greg Cook, said the assembly of the neutrino detector will take several years with lots of material deliveries in various sizes.

"By having that large of an opening it solves a lot of problems. It also gives some of the excitement we were looking for as well as achieving the goals of the Fermilab Campus Plan of designing buildings that are welcoming and emphasize transparency. Once the SBN detector is in place, the building is essentially a simple, well-designed box. Between the door and the adjacent clerestory windows, the building is quite pleasant architecturally both during the day and at night. As an architect we have to make sure everything is working and we were dependent upon Schweiss engineers to ensure that the equipment works. It's a big door with a lot of load that needs to be transferred. As architects we come up with the ideas, but we are dependent upon the interplay between the door manufacturer and the contractor to make sure all the pieces come together to ensure that the product meets the clients expectations," said Cook.

He said the quality of construction of the door is excellent. "It's a real nice door. I like the fact that people get excited about it once it is opened. People drive over to see it; it's practical, but in reality we were looking for the excitement too as it gives a little sparkle to a refined building. We're using it like an ornament. You have a good product," noted Cook.

Dixon agreed. "The door matches the rest of the building and has received many compliments. It has been in place for about a year now and it works fine. The benefit of a bifold door is that we are able to achieve a clear opening from column-to-column as well as a large vertical clear opening without making the building taller."

The SBN Near Detector Building is designed to accommodate the installation of a custom designed state-of-the-art liquid argon neutrino detector to be constructed in a 34-foot-deep below-grade enclosure. The other new building associated with the SBN program is the SBN Far Detector Building located about 500 meters north of the SBN Near Detector Building. It is designed to accommodate the refurbished ICARUS neutrino detector. The ICARUS detector was built by international collaborators from CERN and INFN and consists of two sections approximately 18' wide x 18' tall x 77' long and weighing over 60 tons. Each building was designed to house the unique program for two quite different physics detectors. A neutrino is a neutral subatomic particle with a mass close to zero and half-integer spin, rarely reacting with the normal matter.

Fermilab SBN Near & Far Detectors

Fermilab is America's particle physics and accelerator laboratory located in Batavia. Illinois. One of their goals is to help answer the question, How did the universe begin? What secrets do the smallest, most elemental particles of matter hold, and how can they help us understand the intricacies of space and time?

Since 1967, Fermilab has worked to answer these and other fundamental questions and enhance understanding of everything we see around us. As the United States' premier particle physics laboratory, they do science that matters. They work on the world's most advanced particle accelerators and dig down to the smallest building blocks of matter. They also probe the farthest reaches of the universe, seeking out the nature of dark matter and dark energy.

Fermilab's 1,750 employees include scientists and engineers from all around the world. They collaborate with more than 50 countries on physics experiments based in the United States and elsewhere. Since 1967 Fermilab has provided physicists with the tools to study the smallest building blocks of matter and the results have included the discovery of the top quark and tau neutrino. A focus of Fermilab now is the neutrino research program, including the currently operating NOvA and MicroBooNE experiments Fermilab is hosting the international Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment, or DUNE, which is supported by the Long-Baseline Neutino Facility, whose construction began last year.

Fermilab's 6,800-acre site at Batavia, Illinois is managed by the Fermi Research Alliance LLC (FRA) for the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science. FRA's members are the University of Chicago and Universities Research Association Inc., a consortium of 89 research universities.

Fermilab's mission is to drive discovery by building and operating world-leading accelerator and detector facilities, performing pioneering research with national and global partners and developing new technologies for science that supports U.S. industrial competitiveness.

Fermilab visitors are allowed to visit two buildings on their own. In Wilson Hall, visitors can explore the exhibit and viewing areas on the first and 15th floor as well as the Fermilab Art Gallery on the second floor. The hours are Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Saturdays and Sundays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Visitors also can explore the hands-on exhibits at the Leon Lederman Science Education Center. They also have plenty of events for children. If you're interested in taking a tour, a free one is offered every Wednesday at 10 a.m.

Fermilab is located at Kirk Road and Pine Street Batavia IL. Phone: 630-840-3000 or 630-840-3351. Visit their website at: www.fnal.gov

Holabird & Root, LLC

The architectural firm now known as Holabird & Root was founded in Chicago in 1880. Over the years, the firm has changed its name several times and adapted to the architectural style then current from Chicago School to Art Deco to Modern Architecture to Sustainable Architecture.

Holabird & Root provides architectural, engineering, interior design, and planning services. It is Chicago's oldest architecture firm. The firm remains a privately held partnership currently operating with three principals and five associate principals.

Beginning with the Tacoma Building (completed 1889; demolished 1929), their first major commission, and the Marquette Building (1895), the firm became well known for its groundbreaking Chicago School skyscrapers. An enormously successful practice, they also designed large, ornate hotels across the country, including Chicago's Palmer House.

After the deaths of William Holabird (1923) and Martin Roche (1927), the then renamed Holabird & Root was run by Holabird's son John Augur Holabird and John Wellborn Root, Jr., who had both joined back in 1914. Under their leadership, the firm adopted an Art Deco style. The company name changed to Holabird, Root & Burgee for a while, and two further generations of Holabirds served as partners (up to 1987). Currently located in the Marquette Building, the firm is now again called Holabird & Root, although nobody of either name is involved anymore.

Holabird & Root recently completed Fermilab's Short Baseline Neutrino (SBN) Near and Far Detector buildings. They are located at 140 S Dearborn St., Suite 500, Chicago, IL. Phone: (312) 357-1771 www.holabird.com

Vissering Construction Company

Vissering has been known as a leader in Construction for more than 55 years. Their experience allows them to effectively manage and build a broad spectrum of construction projects. Their staff has the experience, talent and dedication to assemble a qualified team that will be tailored to your project needs. Their attention to detail and their belief in the importance of customer satisfaction results in quality second to none.

Vissering Construction was founded by Glenn Vissering in the mid 1950's. In 1986, Glenn sold his well-established business to group of local individuals who were experienced in large general construction projects. From that humble beginning, the business has seen continued steady and healthy growth and has become one of the industry's leaders in the construction market.

No matter what method of construction delivery you choose, you can rest assured that everyone involved with your project will be held to the highest standard of ethics and accountability.

Vissering Construction Company was awarded the Central Illinois Builders of AGC Safety Award for the 2016 year in the category of 200,000 to 300,000 man-hours. They want to get the word out that Vissering Construction can deliver your Green project quickly and cost effectively. Their portfolio of LEED certified projects continues to grow with each passing day.

Vissering is located at 175 Benchmark Industrial Drive, Streator, Illinois. Ph. 815-673-5511. www.vissering.com