Pantex Administrative Support Complex approved to move forward

343,000 square foot facility to be constructed near the Pantex Plant

AMARILLO, Texas – Consolidated Nuclear Security, LLC (CNS) received approval today from the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) to move forward with pursuing a lease for a facility that will transform the skyline of the Pantex Plant. The new Pantex Administrative Support Complex (ASC), to be built just south of the Pantex Plant, will be a 343,000 square foot, state-of-the-art facility providing office space for up to 1,100 federal and contractor employees. The facility will be developed by Lawler-Wood, LLC.

The Pantex Plant is the nation's only nuclear weapons assembly and disassembly facility and is a key element in the U.S. nuclear security enterprise. Pantex is located on the high plains of the Texas Panhandle, 17 miles east of Amarillo, Texas.

“This milestone underscores our commitment to address the Pantex Plant’s aging infrastructure challenges, and to invest in the site to position it for the future,” said CNS Deputy Enterprise Manager Michelle Reichert. “The ASC will enhance our ability to attract and retain highly skilled employees to safely perform our national security mission. It will also allow us to be more focused on other critical infrastructure needs at the Plant.”

The building will provide an administrative and support facility for the nuclear security mission at Pantex and relocate employees from numerous aging facilities that are costly to operate and do not meet modern standards. Along with office space for nearly one-third of Pantex employees, the facility will be equipped with a conference center, cafeteria, visitor's center, and medical and employee health and fitness facilities.

Today’s decision is the culmination of more than 16 months of planning by CNS and the NNSA. CNS will now begin working with Lawler-Wood, LLC to finalize the project details. Construction is anticipated to begin in August 2016. The new facility will be near the intersection of Farm to Market (FM) Road 2373 and Highway 60.

Consolidated Nuclear Security, LLC (CNS) operates the Pantex Plant, located in Amarillo, Texas, and the Y-12 National Security Complex, located in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, under a single contract for the U.S. National Nuclear Security Administration. Pantex and Y-12 are key facilities in the U.S. Nuclear Security Enterprise, and CNS performs its work with a focus on the performance excellence and the imperatives of safety, security, zero defects and delivery as promised.

For more information on each site, visit www.pantex.com or www.y12.doe.gov. Follow Pantex on Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn. Follow Y-12 on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Flickr.

CONTACT:

Jason Bohne
Senior Director
Communications & Public Affairs
Office (865) 241-1400
Mobile (865) 337-4077
jason.bohne@cns.doe.gov