Lam Research has begun construction of a new state-of-the-art research and development laboratory in Tualatin, Oregon, marking a major step in its plans to accelerate semiconductor innovation for the artificial intelligence era. The new facility is part of the company’s planned investment of more than $3 billion in its global laboratory network over the next five years, aimed at advancing technologies required for next-generation AI chips.
The groundbreaking ceremony was held at Lam Research’s existing R&D center in Tualatin, located in Oregon’s Silicon Forest. The new laboratory will cover approximately 120,000 square feet and is expected to increase cleanroom laboratory space at the Tualatin R&D center by more than 50% once completed. The facility is planned to become one of Lam Research’s most advanced laboratories, giving the company greater capacity for experimentation and enabling closer collaboration with semiconductor manufacturers.
The facility is expected to support the development of advanced deposition and etch processes, materials science and hardware validation. Customers will be able to work directly with Lam Research engineers through different stages of product development, from initial ideas through deployment in their semiconductor fabrication facilities. The Oregon lab will also become part of Lam’s global network of specialized laboratories, which work together across locations to accelerate innovation around the clock.
Lam Research President and Chief Operating Officer Sesha Varadarajan said the expansion will strengthen the company’s specialized capabilities while adding tens of thousands of square feet of cleanroom space. He also highlighted the importance of Oregon’s Silicon Forest as a hub for semiconductor innovation and thanked the state, Washington County and the City of Tualatin for their continued support.
The project is expected to open in 2028 and forms part of a planned multibuilding expansion at Lam Research’s Tualatin campus. According to a third-party assessment, the three-year construction phase is projected to generate approximately 900 jobs and $500 million in economic output.
Once the broader expansion is completed, Lam Research expects it to become the company’s largest investment in Oregon to date. The project is projected to create more than 400 new Lam Research jobs and increase the number of jobs supported by the company across the state to more than 11,000. Its annual economic contribution to Oregon is also projected to rise to more than $1.8 billion.
The groundbreaking ceremony brought together government officials, semiconductor industry leaders and representatives from the local community. U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley, Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici, Oregon Secretary of State Tobias Read and other leaders attended the event. Representatives from Intel and Micron also highlighted their long-standing collaboration with Lam Research and the importance of accelerating semiconductor development to meet growing demand driven by AI.
With AI driving demand for increasingly advanced computing technologies, Lam Research’s Oregon expansion is positioned to strengthen semiconductor research, manufacturing innovation and collaboration with chipmakers. The new laboratory is expected to play an important role in helping develop the technologies needed for the next generation of AI-driven computing.
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