Nuclear Research Facility to Land in Texas BBQ Town

A $23 million nuclear research reactor is set to take shape in Lockhart, Texas, as part of an "innovation hub" known as Proto Town outside of Austin.

Mar. 11, 2026 at 11:03pm

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A $23 million nuclear research reactor is heading to Lockhart, Texas, as part of the Proto Town development, a 538-acre tech manufacturing and innovation hub. The facility will house a nuclear research reactor, reactor pool room, office, equipment, and storage spaces. The project is being led by Atomic Alchemy Inc., a company dedicated to producing radioisotopes used in nuclear medicine, in partnership with advanced nuclear reactor designer Oklo.

Why it matters

The arrival of a major nuclear research facility in the small Texas town of Lockhart highlights the growing focus on advanced nuclear technologies and their potential applications in fields like nuclear medicine. This project is part of a broader effort to establish an "innovation hub" in the region, which could bring new economic opportunities and technological advancements to the area.

The details

The $23 million nuclear research facility is a 7,600 square-foot tilt-wall concrete building that will house a nuclear research reactor, reactor pool room, office, equipment, and storage spaces. The project is being led by Atomic Alchemy Inc., a company dedicated to producing radioisotopes used in nuclear medicine, in partnership with advanced nuclear reactor designer Oklo. Atomic Alchemy previously submitted permitting applications for a four-reactor radioisotope-production facility near Idaho Falls, Idaho, but withdrew that application to pursue the Lockhart pilot facility under U.S. Department of Energy authorization.

  • Work began on the $23 million facility in 2025.
  • Atomic Alchemy partnered with Oklo in 2024.

The players

Atomic Alchemy Inc.

A company dedicated to producing radioisotopes used in nuclear medicine.

Oklo

A designer of advanced nuclear reactors that partnered with Atomic Alchemy in 2024.

Thomas Eiden

The founder and CEO of Atomic Alchemy Inc. and a nuclear engineer.

Jacob DeWitte

The co-founder and CEO of Oklo who spoke publicly about the DOE Reactor Pilot Program in a March 9 interview with Bloomberg Television.

Hillside Architecture LLC

The Austin-based architecture firm contracted to design the Lockhart nuclear research facility.

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What they’re saying

“We feel quite confident for one of our projects to hit that milestone and that objective. The other two will follow in accordance.”

— Jacob DeWitte, Co-Founder and CEO, Oklo

“Oklo views the (Reactor Pilot Program) as an enabler and accelerator to deliver advanced nuclear technologies that strengthen U.S. energy security, healthcare infrastructure, and industrial leadership.”

— Oklo

What’s next

The DOE Reactor Pilot Program has the goal of reaching criticality for at least three advanced nuclear reactor concepts located outside of national laboratories by July 4. Oklo was selected for three of the 10 projects in the program, and the company expects to meet that milestone for at least one of its projects.

The takeaway

The arrival of a major nuclear research facility in the small Texas town of Lockhart underscores the growing focus on advanced nuclear technologies and their potential applications, particularly in the field of nuclear medicine. This project is part of a broader effort to establish an "innovation hub" in the region, which could bring new economic opportunities and technological advancements to the area.