Skender Completes Construction of ULRI Materials Discovery Research Institute lab at Illinois Science + Technology Park

Skender recently completed construction on the interior buildout of the 19,366-square-foot Materials Discovery Research Institute (MDRI) lab for UL Research Institutes (ULRI), a global safety science leader.

The new state-of-the-art lab is located within the Illinois Science + Technology Park, a world-class research and development community, at 8045 Lamon Avenue in Skokie, Ill. Designed as an incubator for scientific innovation where students and early-career researchers can work alongside seasoned experts, the MDRI lab of ULRI harnesses advanced computing and experimental methods to create innovative materials for renewable energy and environmental sustainability.

The buildout included joining multiple lab sections within a secure envelope, retrofitting existing labs, and adding specialized laboratories. The space is composed of a cutting-edge gas adsorption lab with significant lab gas infrastructure, an automation lab, and a battery characterization lab.

To meet ULRI’s mission of creating advanced, low-cost renewable energy sources and environmental sustainability to address global safety challenges, Skender built a flexible, digital-first laboratory designed with collaboration and energy efficiency in mind. Open floor plans with modular infrastructure were incorporated along with freestanding lab furniture and ceiling-mounted surface panels that can easily be reconfigured to accommodate the shifting needs of experimentation with future-fit precision technologies, including automated instrumentation and artificial intelligence (AI). Energy-efficient HVAC systems and eco-friendly building materials were deployed to ensure that the laboratory aligns with ULRI’s sustainability goals.

Skender played a key role in bringing this innovative lab to life that will advance materials science for years to come and is currently underway on the project’s next phase, the design-build of a state-of-the-art scanning electronic microscope capable of viewing down to 1 nanometer (a human hair is about 90,000 nanometers).

“We are extremely proud to have partnered with UL Research Institutes on their newest lab, which will serve as a hub for groundbreaking discoveries that benefit both science and society,” said Martin Barrett, Senior Project Manager at Skender.

Skender collaborated with architectural designers Harley Ellis Devereaux (HED), engineers at Affiliated Engineers, Inc. (AEI), and consultants at Project Management Advisors, Inc. (PMA) on the project, which took 30 weeks to complete.

Read more about the project at Lab Design News.