MANSFIELD, Texas — Ramtech Building Systems has completed a new 26,880-square-foot, two-story modular office building at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), marking another milestone in the growing adoption of permanent modular construction across the Southwest.
The design-build firm, headquartered in Mansfield, Texas, partnered with Albuquerque-based Wilson & Company and Thornton-Tomasetti Engineering to deliver the project using Ramtech’s proprietary slab-on-grade permanent modular construction system. The approach allowed significant portions of the building to be fabricated off-site, helping reduce construction time and costs while meeting the laboratory’s strict technical and security requirements.
The facility was assembled from 26 modules, each measuring 14 feet by 60 feet, and features a clear-span structural design that supports flexible interior layouts. Inside, the building includes 14 private offices, expansive open work areas, breakrooms on both floors, four communications rooms, men’s and women’s restrooms, and dedicated mechanical and electrical spaces. A modular elevator and two stairwells provide vertical circulation throughout the building.
Ramtech’s in-house design team developed the initial floor plans and exterior elevations, while Wilson & Company was responsible for civil, electrical, and mechanical engineering. Thornton-Tomasetti provided structural engineering for the concrete foundation and site-built components. The building rests on a stem wall concrete foundation set below the frost line and was engineered to withstand the wind and seismic conditions specific to northern New Mexico.
The exterior was designed to complement the industrial character of surrounding LANL facilities, featuring horizontal steel siding panels and a built-up SBS roofing system. Interior finishes include carpet and porcelain tile flooring, non-static VCT, textured and painted walls, and acoustic tile ceilings installed in a slim-line grid system. Comprehensive life safety systems—such as fire alarms, automatic sprinklers, data and communications infrastructure, and security systems—were installed to meet LANL’s stringent standards.
“Building in a remote location like Los Alamos typically means higher costs and fewer available contractors,” said Randy Van Zandt, vice president of operations for Ramtech Building Systems. “By shifting a large portion of the work off-site, our permanent modular construction approach significantly shortened the timeline, reduced costs, and still met the unique performance and security demands of Los Alamos National Laboratory.”
Although the building is not LEED certified, it complies with U.S. Department of Energy sustainability requirements. Energy-efficient mechanical and electrical systems, enhanced exterior insulation, and low-consumption plumbing fixtures were incorporated to improve overall performance and efficiency.
Founded in 1982, Ramtech Building Systems provides relocatable modular buildings and permanent modular construction solutions for commercial, educational, government, and healthcare clients throughout the southern United States. The company has completed more than 5,000 projects and offers both pier-and-beam and slab-on-grade permanent modular construction systems that deliver the appearance, durability, and lifespan of traditional site-built structures.
