Gov. Jared Polis was on beam-signing duty at Colorado State University’s Foothills Campus on Monday, helping mark the topping-out of the ATLAS laser facility and then sharing the moment on his official Facebook page. The Advanced Technology Lasers for Applications and Science (ATLAS) building is rising near CSU’s engineering complex and is billed as a future hub for multi-petawatt laser research that will pull student training and industry projects directly into Fort Collins. University and construction leaders say the structural frame is now complete, with work pivoting to the intricate interior build-out of labs and cleanrooms. It is a milestone that blends research ambitions, local jobs, and Colorado’s growing push into fusion energy technology.
ATLAS Tops Out, Frame Is Complete
Crews placed the final steel beam to complete the structural frame of the two-story, roughly 77,626-square-foot ATLAS building, according to PR Newswire. The construction team at McCarthy Building Companies reported that the framing phase used about 590 tons of steel and thousands of cubic yards of concrete, and that the focus now shifts to enclosing the structure along with the highly specialized mechanical and electrical systems the laser labs will need. Project managers are still targeting substantial completion in December 2026, followed by interior commissioning and an anticipated opening window in 2027.
What ATLAS Will Do
Colorado State University describes ATLAS as a “premier multi-petawatt laser facility” that will house three synchronized, high-repetition-rate multi-petawatt lasers capable of supporting hundreds of shots per day for experiments in fusion energy, materials science, and industrial imaging, according to CSU’s project page. The university’s ATLAS materials highlight student training, workforce development, and fast-turnaround industry access as core goals of the program. CSU documents put the facility’s opening in 2027 as teams finish vibration-sensitive laboratories and precision cleanroom environments designed for this kind of ultra-intense laser work.
Public-Private Partnership and Funding
The ATLAS effort is anchored by a public-private partnership that includes Marvel Fusion alongside university and design partners, with federal research support noted in partner announcements. Marvel Fusion and engineering materials put the development cost at roughly $150 million, and engineering partners describe the specialized mechanical, electrical, and environmental systems required to safely support multi-petawatt laser operations. Groundbreaking for ATLAS took place in fall 2024 as the university and its partners shifted from planning to active construction, a step that was reported by industry outlets that track higher-education building projects.
Local Research and Economic Impact
Officials say the project is already generating construction jobs and is expected to create research positions once the facility is online, while attracting visiting scientists and industry collaborations that could help spur local businesses and internships. The construction release outlines the heavy civil work completed so far and again points to the December 2026 target for substantial completion, with outfitting and commissioning to follow, as reported by PR Newswire. University leaders say ATLAS is expected to expand hands-on learning opportunities for students and give Colorado companies a closer connection to cutting-edge laser and fusion research taking shape in Fort Collins.
Polis Shared Photos From the Site
Polis shared photos from the topping-out ceremony on a post to Facebook, showing the signed beam and attendees gathered at the construction site. Local coverage reported that he added his signature to the ceremonial beam during the event, according to School Construction News. In his social post, Polis cast ATLAS as part of Colorado’s expanding role in advanced scientific research and economic innovation. The images offer a close look at a project that university and industry backers say will help put Fort Collins firmly on the map for laser science.
