An ever-changing landscape
22 Feb 2016
With the recent addition of 60 people, the on-site workforce dedicated to building construction is now close to the symbolic mark of 1,000. A peak of 3,000 workers is anticipated in the coming years as construction and machine assembly activities reach their maximum intensity.
The second basement level slab (B1), with all inserts and embedded plates, was completed for the Diagnostics Building on 18 December 2015, effectively "checking off" the first Council-approved milestone for construction a few weeks in advance. Today, more than 80% of the reinforcement cages for the B1-level Diagnostics walls are in place.
All of the B2 and B1 level works currently underway in the Tokamak Complex Seismic Pit rest on a unique foundation (the B2 slab), which is in turn supported by 493 seismic pads. When the building is completed and fully equipped, the B2 slab will support some 400,000 tonnes. In the very centre, workers are installing skirts, plates and reinforcement for the second level of the bioshield (the first level was completed on 20 January).
Foundation works are ongoing for what will be the largest cryoplant in the world. The ITER cryoplant will distribute liquid helium and nitrogen to the superconducting magnets, thermal shield and cryopumps.
Despite its rather unassuming name, the Site Services Building (foreground) will be strategic for the ITER installation. The 80-metre-long building will accommodate and distribute a large number of industrial support services and systems that are indispensable for operation.
Alternating bands of polished stainless steel and grey-lacquered metal makes for an optimal insertion into the environment: the 60-metre tall Assembly Building will reflect the changing colours and hue of the passing seasons. The architectural bias also expresses "the precision of the research work being performed inside the buildings."
Some 47 kilometres of "cable-in-conduit" superconductor will be necessary to complete the windings for four poloidal field coils in the Poloidal Field Coils Winding Facility. The extension underway will add extra space for the storage of cable spools.
Reels, de-spoolers, a winding table, impregnation moulds ... little by little the 12,000 m² Poloidal Field Coils Winding Facility is being equipped with specialized tooling.