The Institute for Advanced Learning & Research

Sustainable Energy Technology Center Building (SENTEC)

Danville, VA

The Sustainable Energy Technology Center serves the Institute for Advanced Learning & Research's (IALR) mission to promote research and development of bio-fuels and alternative energy technologies in Southern Virginia.

In response to a changing economic climate in Virginia, with industries such as manufacturing, textiles, and tobacco farming, which traditionally drove the state’s economy, being downsized or outsourced, the IALR was formed to serve as an economic catalyst for Virginia by supporting a variety of new technological enterprises. The 22,000 gsf LEED Gold certified Center houses flexible laboratories with a focus on process chemistry and microbiology and analytical instrumentation.

The building also has a high-bay pilot plant and scale-up facility, which is used to test and refine the industrial development process for converting agricultural feedstocks, biomass and agricultural by-products into bio-fuel products. Office and administrative suites to support the participating industry partners are also part of the program.

Lord Aeck Sargent provided consulting services for the project through the Architect-of-Record, Dewberry.

 

Practice Areas

Government