Facilities Engineering takes the lead in ensuring the resilience of the Lab’s infrastructure against extreme weather events, earthquakes and the threat of public safety power shutoffs.
The Facilities Engineering Department is responsible for ensuring the reliability of the Lab’s electrical, mechanical, civil, structural and utility infrastructure. Facilities Engineering supports Laboratory stewardship by verifying system compliance with applicable codes and standards; and introducing new assessment technologies to deepen our understanding of safety, resilience and reliability.
Facilities Engineering Groups
Plant Engineering
Plant Engineering, led by the Plant Engineering Manager, is dedicated to upholding and enhancing the reliability and sustainability of LBNL’s infrastructure through reliability-centered maintenance and system engineering, enhancing the reliability and availability of critical infrastructure and utilities.
Plant Engineering is staffed by design engineers, system engineers, and other Facilities Engineering staff and utilizes a matrix structure to share engineering resources and operations with Project Engineering.
Plant Engineering Teams (matrixed to Project Engineering):
- Building Automation Controls
- Mechanical Engineering
- GIS/CAD Document Management
- Utilities and Penetration Permits
- Reliability Engineering Program (not matrixed)
Project Engineering
Project Engineering, led by the Project Engineering Manager, is committed to excelling in delivering engineered solutions that meet the unique demands of constructing scientific research facilities, enhancing project delivery and ensuring strategic alignment with LBNL’s goals.
Project Engineering is staffed by design engineers, system engineers, and other Facilities Engineering staff and utilizes a matrix structure to share engineering resources and operations with Plant Engineering.
Project Engineering Teams (matrixed to Plant Engineering)
- Architecture, Civil, and Structural Engineering
- Electrical Engineering
Code Compliance
The Code Compliance Office ensures that Berkeley Lab communities have safe and accessible facilities and infrastructure by providing efficient inspection and plan review services to meet building codes and standards.
Design Management
The Design Management Program plays a pivotal role in supporting line-item and critical projects in partnership with the Projects & Infrastructure Modernization Division (PIMD). By reducing technical risks and optimizing project delivery, we help drive continuous improvement in capital project execution. Our Design Managers oversee the entire project lifecycle—from the conceptual phase through to the transition into operations.
Design Managers are assigned to projects through collaboration between PIMD leadership, the Facility Engineering Department Head, and the Lead Design Manager.
Power System Stewardship Program (PSSP)
LBNL Power System Stewardship Program (PSSP) was established to strengthen the safety and resiliency of the Lab’s power system to support scientific operations. This includes prioritizing funding for maintenance, modernization, and renewal of the Laboratory’s aging electrical infrastructure.
PSSP uses a holistic approach that focuses on three functional areas: Reliability, Redundancy, and Renewal. These areas reinforce each other to enable and accelerate improvements. PSSP plans and executes projects under these functional areas. These include:
- New Building Design Guidelines Modification
- Risk-based maintenance
- Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA)
- Power System Modelling
- Power System Architecture Revisions
- Critical Spares Inventory