Queen’s University, located in Kingston, Ont., recently opened the doors to its Reactor Materials Testing Laboratory (RMTL). The lab, designed by Diamond Schmitt Architects, is able to simulate conditions of materials inside a nuclear reactor, which will advance research into improved power plants.

The one-storey facility is located off-campus, and centrally features a large accelerator housed in a reinforced concrete chamber that generates a beam of high-energy protons. The accelerator can test the stresses, temperature and other conditions found in metallic components of an operational reactor core.

“This is a highly insulated facility with two-metre-thick concrete walls separating the accelerator chamber from other labs, offices and amenity spaces,” said John Featherstone, principal, Diamond Schmitt Architects, in a press release.

The nearly 6,500-square-foot facility also features a fully glazed corridor to allow natural light into work areas.

“The uniqueness of this facility is a testament to the innovative approaches being used by the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science to enable world-leading research and to educate our students,” said Dr. Mark Daymond, laboratory director, in a press release.