NREL Flatirons Campus Water System

Mortenson is proud to partner with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and Tetra Tech on a critical infrastructure initiative at the Flatirons Campus, the U.S. Department of Energy’s primary site for research, development, and testing in wind energy, distributed generation, water power, and grid integration. Situated along US Highway 93 between Golden and Boulder, Colorado, the Flatirons Campus has seen significant growth in recent years, with the addition of new research facilities, expanded testing capabilities, and an supporting staff dedicated to advancing renewable energy technologies. However, this rapid expansion has placed new demands on the campus’s infrastructure, particularly its water systems. Prior to this project, the Flatirons Campus relied on trucking in water, a process that created logistical challenges and operational strain for NREL’s team.

Building on the success of delivering the Flatirons Control Center Facility in early 2025, Mortenson is now leading construction of the Flatirons Campus Water System project, which will provide the domestic water, fire suppression, and wastewater systems necessary for the campus’s long-term growth and resilience. The project scope includes construction of a new pump house and installation of a raw water line from Smart Reservoir, located in the southwest corner of the Rocky Flats National Wildlife Refuge, to the Flatirons Campus. The new infrastructure will also feature a domestic water treatment facility housed in a newly constructed metal building, installation of fire and domestic water storage tanks designed to meet both current and future suppression requirements, upgrades to the fire suppression system, and associated civil, electrical, and wastewater infrastructure.

By replacing trucked-in water with a reliable, code-compliant system, this project will significantly enhance the campus’s operational efficiency while ensuring adequate resources to support ongoing and future research initiatives. Mortenson’s continued partnership with NREL underscores our shared commitment to delivering the infrastructure that enables cutting-edge research, accelerates the commercialization of clean energy solutions, and supports a sustainable energy future.