Maunakea Spectroscopic Explorer (MSE)

M3 provided an ‘Observatory & Facilities Design Study’ for the Canada France Hawai’i Telescope (CFHT) in support of the Maunakea Spectroscopic Explorer (MSE) Telescope Upgrade project.  The CFHT planned to repurpose and upgrade its existing 3.6m telescope in Mauna Kea, Hawai’i to an 11.25m aperture wide field spectroscopic survey telescope.

M3’s scope of work included providing a thorough review of the structural modifications required to the existing CFHT facilities to house the new MSE enclosure and telescope.  Architectural conceptual design layouts were developed to best integrate telescope-related equipment and functional space requirements to comply with the current building code requirements.  Additionally, the architectural layouts incorporated a thermal management system to meet all daytime and nighttime requirements of the MSE.  M3 studied the structural implications on the existing lower fixed building related to the placement of the new dome, and structural implications on the existing concrete telescope pier related to the placement of the new telescope.  M3 also developed a detailed construction implementation plan as well as a construction cost estimate.