Chu Hall, previously Solar Energy Research Center (SERC), is Berkeley Lab’s latest addition to a collection of buildings that create a hub of interactive and collaborative research. Situated in its Old Town neighborhood, the new 39,000-square-foot, three-story building is the new home for 100 researchers, most from the Department of Energy-funded Joint Center for Artificial Photosynthesis (JCAP), the nation’s largest research program dedicated to the development of an artificial solar-fuel generation technology.

The LEED Silver laboratory, was designed using renewable or recyclable materials to the maximum extent possible, along with a “green” roof that maximizes natural light.

Pan-Pacific installed all of the plumbing systems for the laboratory including hot and cold water, waste and vent, specialty nitrogen lines, R/O water, compressed air and a 750 gallon nitrogen tank.

A few of the additional installations included water heaters, air compressors, vacuum pumps, purified water and specialty connections to lab hoods.