ALBUQUERQUE, New Mexico – The Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration (DOE/NNSA) held a ribbon cutting ceremony on Tuesday to celebrate the opening of the new John A. Gordon Albuquerque Complex.

Jill Hruby, the DOE Under Secretary for Nuclear Security and NNSA Administrator, attended the ribbon cutting event along with congressional representatives, as well as other distinguished state and local guests. Leadership from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which oversaw construction of the facility, was also in attendance.

The building was named in honor of NNSA’s first Administrator, the late Gen. Gordon, for his vast contributions to the Nuclear Security Enterprise. 

“Most of our buildings in the current Complex started life as military barracks in the early 1950’s,” said Hruby. “They are well past their intended lifespan and cannot support our expanding mission requirements. By combining those 25 buildings into a single facility, we can simultaneously reduce our total deferred maintenance by almost $40 million while providing modern, safer, and more efficient working conditions in a building that meets Energy and Environmental Gold Design specifications.”

“This is a historic day for the 1,200 NNSA employees and contractors in Albuquerque,” said Sen. Martin Heinrich. “I have worked to deliver more than $174 million over the last six years for this project that supported 2,000 good-paying construction jobs. I’m grateful for the leadership of NNSA Administrator Jill Hruby and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for overseeing the completion of this new facility that will provide a major return to U.S. taxpayers, eliminate approximately $40 million in deferred maintenance in the old buildings, and will be much cleaner, efficient, and more cost effective to operate.”

“I’m honored to celebrate the grand opening of the new NNSA Administrative Building. This state-of-the-art facility will replace outdated 1950s era buildings so NNSA can fully meet the needs of its core missions,” said Sen. Ben Ray Luján. “Our National Labs are the crown jewel of American research and innovation. At a time when countries like China are building their own national lab network, we must invest in our labs. That's why I worked to secure an investment of $17 billion in the Senate’s bipartisan innovation bill. This funding will help ensure our security and competitiveness by supporting science and technology in the industries of the future.”

The three-story, 330,000 square foot structure will house approximately 1,200 employees who support NNSA’s vital national security missions. The project also allows for disposition of the current Albuquerque Complex, reducing NNSA’s total deferred maintenance by about $40 million.