Diamond begins to take shape

Diamond began its construction last spring [J. Synchrotron Rad. (2003). 10, 291]. It is being constructed by Diamond Light Source Ltd, which celebrated the arrival of its 100th employee this spring.

Diamond's building construction is beginning to make rapid progress. The challenge is to ensure that the first seven beamlines begin operation in 2007. The construction team are currently in the most intense period of the building programme. The roof of the Linac and booster has been completed.

Figure 1 Bird's-eye view of the construction site.

The walls of the storage-ring tunnel are almost finished and installation of the pre-cast roof is also well advanced. Diamond's office block, Diamond House, is taking shape, with roof decking over the atrium and curtain walling complete.

Figure 2 Storage-ring tunnel and pre-cast roof.

Diamond is a 24-cell 3 GeV storage ring with a circumference of 562 m. Phase 1 beamlines include three beamlines for protein crystallography. Its complement of 21 beamlines is expected to be completed by 2012.