The new Advanced Manufacturing Collaborative (AMC) Facility on the University of South Carolina (USC) Aiken campus is now open. The ribbon-cutting ceremony, which was held on Thursday, August 7th, included dignitaries such as U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright, Sen. Lindsey Graham, and Rep. Joe Wilson.
North Wind Construction Services served as the prime contractor for the AMC Lab Facility, with LBYD Federal as the Designer of Record. This cutting-edge, 63,000-square-foot facility is designed to foster collaboration among American industry, academia, and government, advancing capabilities in additive manufacturing, AI-driven automation, and innovative materials for fusion energy and energy resilience.
Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), the AMC Facility will support dynamic partnerships between the Savannah River National Laboratory (SRNL), the University of South Carolina Aiken, private industry, academic institutions, and government agencies at the local, state, and federal levels. This state-of-the-art laboratory will serve as a hub for knowledge exchange and innovation, driving forward research and development in alignment with the DOE’s mission.
“The Advanced Manufacturing Collaborative will bring the expertise of the Department of Energy’s National Labs together with innovators from academia and the private sector with one shared goal: to unleash America’s energy potential,” said Energy Secretary Wright. “This mission was started by President Trump in his first term, and I am proud to be representing the Department of Energy 200 days into his second administration for the grand opening of this facility, completed in record time.”
“The opening of the Advanced Manufacturing Collaborative on USC Aiken’s campus will greatly enhance the ability for the Savannah River National Laboratory and private sector, along with academia, to work together on critical initiatives,” said U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC). “I was proud to secure federal funding for this facility because I believe this partnership will pay dividends for South Carolina and the rest of the nation. The opening of this facility will cement Aiken as a hub for innovation and advanced technology development for years to come. Finally, I would like to thank Secretary Wright and President Trump for recognizing the importance of South Carolina’s contribution to positioning America as a leader in manufacturing and innovation. I will continue to work with them to ensure the Palmetto State remains on the forefront in this effort.”
SRNL will operate the facility and plans to bring new technology and manufacturing to the region. The goal is to also bring new talent to support the Savannah River Site’s environmental cleanup mission.
“This project represents the best of what we do at North Wind—collaborating across teams to deliver high-quality, mission-critical infrastructure for our federal partners. We’re proud of our work and are excited to see how the AMC will drive innovation in the years ahead,” said Brent Brooks, President of North Wind Construction Services.
Follow this link to view the complete ribbon-cutting ceremony,
courtesy of Savannah River National Laboratory.
