Mace To Extend Vulcan Laser Facility In Oxford

Mace has been selected as main contractor under a pre-construction services agreement (PCSA) by the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) for the extension and part refurbishment of the existing Vulcan Laser Facility on the Harwell Campus, Oxford.

The Mace team are set to carry out the design, construction, programme, and planning services.

The redevelopment will significantly enhance the research capabilities of the existing Central Laser Facility (CLF). It will house the new Vulcan 20-20 laser, the most powerful laser in the world, will help scientists working on nuclear fusion, understanding plasma, new renewable energy sources and studying electromagnetic fields.


Mace will lead on the installation of two seven-meter-tall targeting bunkers, with walls and soffits up to 2.0 meters thick. These structures are made with a specialised radiation-resistant concrete mixture that can shield beams a billion times hotter than the brightest sunlight.

As main contractors, Mace will leverage the wealth of experience the company gained from the construction of the existing Extreme Photonics Applications Centre (EPAC) for the CLF & STFC.

To maintain the continuity of knowledge and expertise, Mace will partner with the same project team -Fairhurst Design Group (Architect), Glanville (civil and structural engineers), Hoare Lea (Mechanical and Electrical engineering), BB7 (fire engineering) and RSK (acoustic engineering).