The new AtkinsRéalis Technology Center opened April 17 in Richland.

The $20 million facility will be used to “further development and application of innovative nuclear and environmental cleanup technologies, Engineering Net Zero and hydrogen clean energy advancements, digital solutions and robotics implementation,” the professional services and project management company said in a statement.

That work will include assembling and storing replacement melters for the Low-Activity Waste facility at Hanford’s Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant, or vit plant.

“As a company, we are constantly researching and refining impactful new approaches across the entire end-to-end lifecycle of an asset,” said Joe St. Julian, president of nuclear for the Montreal-based AtkinsRéalis, in the statement. “From developing clean nuclear energy solutions, to pioneering safer ways of disposing legacy waste material, having access to a world-class facility like this enhances our team and partners’ ability to innovate, collaborate and lay the groundwork that will enable us to engineer a better future for our planet and its people.” 

The new center is next to the AtkinsRéalis Engineering Laboratory and Washington State University Tri-Cities. Construction started in September 2022 and took 15 months. 

AtkinsRéalis opened its new technology center on April 17 in Richland. The $20 million facility will be used to “further development and application of innovative nuclear and environmental cleanup technologies, Engineering Net Zero and hydrogen clean energy advancements, digital solutions and robotics implementation,” the company said in a statement. 

| Courtesy AtkinsRéalis

The facility includes 16,000 square feet of office space, including “hot desks” and traditional private offices. 

“Two workshops and an additional 16,000 square feet of a 59-foot high-bay testing area with an overhead crane complete the cutting-edge testbed facility. The opening of the (center) furthers AtkinsRéalis’ plans for a campus-like technology hub in the Pacific Northwest as part of the company’s rapid growth across U.S. markets,” the company statement said. 

AtkinsRéalis has been in Richland since 2006 and built the engineering facility in 2011.

The city proclaimed April 17 to be AtkinsRéalis Day in honor of the new technology center. 

City officials and representatives from the Hanford site, WSU Tri-Cities and the Tri-City Development Council, or TRIDEC, were among those who attended the grand opening.

“This beautiful space clearly demonstrates our commitment to continuing nearly 20 years of successful engineering and technology development alongside Washington State University, the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and the Department of Energy here in the Tri-Cities Community,” said Jim Rugg, president of U.S. nuclear for AtkinsRéalis, in the statement. “We look forward to seeing these partnerships flourish in this new space.”