Ground-Up Salt Storage and Brine Infrastructure at Oak Ridge National Laboratory

Location: Oak Ridge, Tennessee

Industry: Research & Laboratory

Service: Infrastructure & Utility Modernization

The Situation

Oak Ridge National Laboratory needed a new salt storage and brine support facility on its active DOE campus: a complete ground-up build that included a framed fabric salt-storage structure over a cast-in-place concrete bin system, a brine station, underground water utilities, electrical service, and paved support areas. The facility had to be built and placed into service without disrupting ongoing campus operations.

The Challenge

Construction on an active DOE campus requires security clearance coordination, utility-locate planning, and sequencing discipline at every phase. Site preparation revealed unsuitable soils requiring excavation, hauling, and structural fill before any foundations could be formed. Underground water utilities serving the brine station had to be installed, tested, and coordinated against owner-designated interface points before the above-grade structure could advance.

As work progressed, owner-directed and field-condition-driven changes required continuous scope integration. Revised electrical work tied to RFI responses, excess spoil removal beyond original estimates, rip-rap and geotextile stabilization around the salt shed and brine pad, and a curtain and end-wall system added to improve weather protection were all incorporated without pausing the overall project sequence.

How We Worked

JBrennon managed the full scope from preconstruction through closeout, including safety planning, badging, permitting coordination, and sequencing within the active campus environment. Site preparation began with removal of existing gravel, paving, fencing, and conflicting site features, followed by excavation of unsuitable soils, structural fill placement, and compacted subgrade preparation for the new facility footprint.

Underground water utility improvements were installed serving both the brine station and the facility corridors, including trenching, bedding, backfill, valves, and piping. Cast-in-place concrete work followed: foundations, footings, piers, reinforced salt-storage walls, slabs, pads, and paving surfaces. The framed fabric salt-storage structure was erected over the concrete bin system with required anchorage, hardware, and membrane installation. Electrical infrastructure including service riser, disconnect, conduit, wiring, and pump-control power was installed and commissioned. Gravel and asphalt paving, site restoration, and final stabilization completed the facility.

The Outcome

JBrennon delivered a fully integrated salt storage and brine support facility: operational, stabilized, and compliant with DOE campus requirements.

• Full ground-up delivery on an active DOE campus with badging and security coordination throughout

• Reinforced cast-in-place concrete bin system with framed fabric salt-storage structure erected above

• Underground brine station utilities installed, tested, and coordinated against owner interface points

• Multiple owner-directed scope revisions integrated without disruption to overall project sequence

• Rip-rap stabilization, end-wall system, and final site restoration completed at turnover