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 The
most environmentally stable advanced technologies in the
world can now be found at the new Advanced Measurement
Laboratory (AML) of the National Institute of Standards
and Technology (NIST). The new facility in Gaithersburg,
Maryland, gives NIST and its partners in U.S. industry
access to research and development capabilities
unequalled in the world for research in such 21st
century applications as nanotechnology, semiconductors,
biotechnology, advanced materials, quantum computing and
advanced manufacturing.
 The
new $235 million building, completed in December 2003
and officially opened in June 2004, features five
separate wings with stringent environmental controls on
particulate matter, temperature, humidity, vibration and
electromagnetic interferences. The design includes:
- 536,500 SF
- One occupiable scientific level in each of the five
wings
- 187 instrument lab modules and 151 metrology lab
modules featuring:
- 48 precision temperature control labs (± 0.1 degree C
or ± 0.01 degree C)
- 18 extremely low vibration labs with active or passive
isolation systems
- 33,000-SF clean room, Class 100, upgradeable to Class
10
- Humidity control with variations of no more than one
percent in specialized areas
Research at NIST covers a broad spectrum. Over 100
different types of laboratories were identified during
initial AML user interviews. Classifying the spaces into
a few general categories helped to establish a modular
concept for lab space organization and utility
distribution. With this modular approach, space and
utilities can be readily modified for changing research
efforts of the future.
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NIST, Advanced Measurement Laboratory ...at a Glance | Gaithersburg, MD
International Intrigue: All Eyes on U.S. Nanotechnology
