The prestigious Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab (JHU/APL) is the nation’s largest university-affiliated research center. The research and development campus, located in Laurel, MD, is at the leading edge of complex research, engineering, and analytical solutions that solve national security challenges and drive advanced technology development.

In collaboration with JHU/APL, the PRIME AE team programmed, designed, and documented two new separate facilities for the 10.7-acre services area complex. The high-tech, state-of-the-art facilities encompassed by the project include the Trades Building and the multi-use building, requiring extensive system integration, including security and intrusion detection, redundant power systems, and campus infrastructure coordination.

The two-story Trades building forms the operations backbone of the entire JHU/APL campus complex, housing the technical services, operations, construction, general maintenance, and carpool departments along with the emergency response communications and call center. For the automotive, equipment maintenance, welding, carpentry, and painting shops, PRIME AE provided special HVAC and electrical systems coordination. As a facility that houses occupants overnight, our team was also tasked with designing 24/7 security capabilities, sleeping quarters, and other support functions.

The multi-use building is where critical Naval & Aerospace Research takes place, and the highly technical design needed to support this important work. This facility encompasses six separate high-bay research, design and testing labs with manufacturing, assembling and storage, a large anechoic chamber for acoustical research and testing, special environmentally controlled spaces for archive storage and hazmat storage, and secure portals for sat-comm equipment roll-out.

PRIME AE’s work for JHU/APL provides critical support to the institution’s mission of developing technologies and capabilities that serve national priorities and expand technical frontiers.