Operated by the University of Chicago for the U.S. Department of Energy, Argonne National Laboratory is the largest government-owned research laboratory in the Midwest, and the only large multi-program national laboratory in the region.

Under contract to Argonne National Laboratory, Austin provided conceptual, preliminary and final designs, cost estimates and engineering analyses of new and rehabilitation type projects.  Austin completed 70 assignments during the contract's duration including engineering analyses and miscellaneous studies, conceptual design studies, design and engineering projects, and design-build projects.