McBains wins work on experimental nuclear fusion facility in Oxfordshire

McBains has been appointed to assist in the construction of a new fusion energy prototype facility at the UK Atomic Energy Authority’s campus in South Oxfordshire. 

This is the consultant’s first fusion power project with nuclear business Tokamak Energy, which picked it to deliver site design services through RIBA Stages 1-3. 

McBains will provide an inter-disciplinary service, comprising architecture, building services engineering, civil and structural engineering, cost management and principal designer services for the purpose-built facility at the Culham Campus. 

The building will feature a main hall for Tokamak Energy’s compact spherical tokamak – a device which uses a powerful magnetic field to produce fusion power – as well as assembly halls and supporting functions such as cryogenics, power systems and laboratories, as well as control rooms, offices, and conference facilities. 

The job is expected to complete in 2026. 

In October 2022, Kier was awarded a £26.8m contract by UKAEA, through the Crown Commercial Service Framework, to build a 8,000 sq m research facility at Culham. 

>>See also: Sellafield seeks four partners for £3bn infrastructure programme

>>See also: Green light for Levete plan to build nuclear fusion research plant

Last month, construction for another fusion demonstrator, designed by Amanda Levete’s practice AL_A, in collaboration with Canadian firm General Fusion, Canadian engineer Hatch and Arup, was green lit by planners.

UKAEA signed a 35-year agreement with Legal & General to develop the new R&D centre at the science centre near Abingdon, which is owned and run by the energy body.