Tammy Miller, conference center technician, in the control room of the ATRF conference center.
By Ken Michaels, Staff Writer
The opening of the Advanced Technology Research Facility (ATRF) conference center more than doubles the amount of meeting space now available at the Frederick National Laboratory.
The first floor conference center includes a 200+-seat auditorium. At more than 3,000 square feet, it is more than twice the size of the Building 549 auditorium. Also on the first floor are six other conference rooms, each seating 16–30 people, and a 24-station computer training room. All rooms have audiovisual capabilities and some are equipped for audio and video teleconferencing.
The conference spaces are designed for maximum flexibility and optimal use of space. The auditorium, for example, is flat, not stepped, allowing for the room to be configured and used in a variety of ways. It can accommodate meetings with more than 200 participants, which may have been held off-site in the past.
The ATRF’s large open atrium provides another place for meetings and collaboration. The atrium features wall-mounted digital signage, which is maintained by the conference center staff. Large screens are mounted at each entrance and just outside the auditorium doors to display messages for visitors or employees, weather alerts, and daily conference center schedules.
The conference center also provides room for caterers to set up and prepare food for meetings, and a breakout area that can be used for setting up tables and chairs.
The “think tank” is a suite of rooms on the third floor designed especially for collaboration and work on special projects or problems. It includes individual work spaces, small breakout areas, and a large room equipped for audiovisual displays and video teleconferencing. The “think tank” and one large public meeting space on the third floor are also supported by the conference center staff.
One conference center technician and two event planners are located adjacent to the conference center in room E1111. An illustrator from Scientific Publications, Graphics & Media is available to ATRF scientists daily.