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Axon

Deep Underground Science & Engineering Laboratory

Client
U.S. National Science Foundation
Location
Homestake, South Dakota
What we did
Architecture, Interior Design
Size
750,000 SF
Collaboration
Arup

As the nation’s first world-class underground research facility for advanced particle physics, the Deep Underground Science and Engineering Laboratory (DUSEL) will be the deepest research center in the Northern Hemisphere. Built within the former Homestake gold mine, which descends 7,400 feet below the surface, Page and Arup’s design repurposes existing mine shafts and tunnels, transforming them into leading-edge laboratories while ensuring a livable and functional environment for researchers.

The project completely overhauls the mine’s infrastructure, reinforcing tunnels and creating new, tailor-made research chambers. At its core, a vast underground cavern will house advanced neutrino detection experiments, leveraging the extreme depth to shield from cosmic radiation.

Beyond state-of-the-art laboratories and emergency command centers, DUSEL integrates essential amenities such as cafeterias, conference rooms, and academic lounges to support long-term research. This unprecedented transformation turns a historic industrial site into a global hub for groundbreaking scientific discovery.

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The deepest laboratory for the biggest scientific questions

Spanning 150,000 square feet, DUSEL includes laboratories, cleanrooms, and caverns for neutrino detectors. A surface station provides additional labs, operations facilities, and a public outreach center, advancing scientific exploration shielded from cosmic radiation. 

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