Sustainable Energy Technology Center Building (SENTEC)

Danville, VA

Lord, Aeck & Sargent is providing laboratory programming and consulting services on the Sustainable Energy Technology Center (SENTEC) at the Institute for Advanced Learning & Research (IALR).

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.

Once completed, the new Center will serve the IALR’s mission to promote research and development of bio-fuels and alternative energy technologies in Southern Virginia.

The 22,000 gsf Center will house flexible laboratories with a focus on process chemistry, and microbiology and analytical instrumentation. The building will also have a high-bay pilot plant and scale-up facility, which will be 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 is providing consulting services for this project through the Architect-of-Record, Dewberry.