Prepare for your visit

Prior to arriving for your visit to NSCL, users will need to complete the following steps before access can be granted. Please return the forms to the Manager for User Relations at least 3 weeks prior to arrival. Notify the Manager for User Relations of your anticipated travel dates. The Manager for User Relations or a delegate will send detailed information regarding safety training and building access.

On-campus Accommodation

To inquire about on-campus availability, please contact the Manager for User Relations.

  • Visiting Scholar Rooms in Owen Hall (2 minute walk to NSCL) These dormitory-style rooms are perfect for the budget conscious user. The charge for dorm rooms at Owen Hall is $50/night. Each room has a shared bathroom with one other room. If you are traveling with another colleague, let us know and there is a chance we can assign you to the same suite (so you would only share the bathroom with your colleague).

The Visiting Scholar Rooms are adjacent to the Riverwalk Market, a food mart attached to a student dining hall featuring diverse culinary options. There is a Starbuck’s coffee and Panera Bread across Bogue Street in the Business College building. Laundry is available at no cost in Owen Hall (guests need to bring their own soap). The location of the visiting scholar rooms relative to NSCL/FRIB cannot be beat!

List of Area Hotels

NSCL has special arrangements with several hotels to provide rooms at reduced rates for NSCL users and visitors, including visitors who pay their own expenses. When making your reservation, simply identify yourself as being eligible for the FRIB reduced rate.

  • Candlewood Suites (3545 Forest Road, Lansing, 517-351-8181) offers our visitors the special rate of $75 for Studio Suites, and $105 for a one bedroom. If you are staying more than 29 nights, ask about an even further reduced rate.
  • Graduate East Lansing (133 Evergreen Avenue, East Lansing, 517-348-0900) offers a special code (SMART) for its lowest offers. Price includes a variety of amenities, including a rooftop bar and restaurant, lobby-level coffee shop, complimentary WiFi and a 24-hour fitness center. Plus, dogs stay for just $25 per night in its pet-friendly accommodations. 
  • Hyatt Place  (Opened June 2015! 2401 Showtime Dr., Lansing, 517.679.7600) offers a reduced rate of $103/Night (code – FRIB) Price includes hot breakfast, WiFi, prearranged shuttle to airport and/or campus, Starbucks on site, walking distance to many restaurants and retail stores.
  • Kellogg Center (219 S. Harrison Road, East Lansing, 800-875-5090, walkable distance to the Lab – 1.4 miles) offers our users and visitors the special rate of $135 or $148 per room. Kellogg will provide transportation to the Capitol City Airport, if arrangements are made in advance. The Kellogg Center is located on campus and is within walking distance of the laboratory.
  • Marriott East Lansing (300 M.A.C. Avenue, East Lansing, 517-337-4440, walkable distance to the Lab – 1.1 miles) offers our guests Concierge-level rooms with breakfast at $179 per night with the FRIB rate code. This hotel also provides a shuttle to the airport and campus and is located at the pickup/drop-off location of the Michigan Flyer. This hotel is within walking distance of campus, many restaurants, and retail stores
  • Quality Inn (3121 East Grand River, Lansing, 517-351-1440) offers our users and visitors a special rate of 42% less than the best available rate per room using the FRIB rate code. This rate includes a full hot breakfast, high speed internet access, and pre-arranged airport and local shuttle service. This hotel is within walking distance of many restaurants and retail stores. Quality Inn also offers a shuttle the campus and the laboratory.
  • Residence Inn (2841 Hannah Blvd, East Lansing, MI, 517-657-2875 or 1-800 Marriott (627-7468) Walkable distance to the Lab, 1.3 miles. This hotel offers users and visitors the special rate of $103/night with the FRIB rate code. The FRIB rate is based upon availability.  If it’s not available, you are guaranteed the regular MSU rates. Price includes complimentary full hot breakfast, fitness, internet, coffee, business center, parking, evening mixer with hors d’oeuvres, beer & wine Mon-Wed, pool, grocery shopping service, electric car charging station. This hotel is also within walking distance of the laboratory.
  • Staybridge Suites (3553 Meridian Crossings Drive, Okemos, 517-347-3044) offers users and visitors a Studio Room for $109. The hotel offers free hot breakfast, indoor pool and gym, evening socials with hot meal Tues-Thurs, and laundry facilities.
  • TownePlace Suites by Marriott (2855 Hannah Boulevard, East Lansing, 517-203-1000, walkable distance to the Lab 1.3 miles,) offers our visitors the special rate of $103 for Studio Suites. Includes a complimentary breakfast, fitness center, internet, coffee, business center, and parking. This hotel is also within walking distance of the laboratory. The FRIB rate is based upon availability and if not available, you are guaranteed the regular MSU rates.
  • Several other hotels are available in East Lansing or the nearby town of Okemos; search travel Web sites such as Travelocity for more information.

hotel map

Getting Here

NSCL is located on the campus of Michigan State University in East Lansing, Michigan. We easily can be reached by car and air.

The Lansing Capital City Airport (LAN) is serviced by five airlines. Rental cars and taxis are available for the approximately 20 minute trip to NSCL.

Wayne County Detroit Metropolitan Airport (DTW), with its new 97-gate terminal, is serviced by all major airlines. Rental cars, the MichiganFlyer coach service and limousine service are available for the 90-120 minute trip to NSCL.

The MichiganFlyer offers reliable motorcoach connections between East Lansing and the Detroit Metropolitan Airport at affordable rates. The cost of a round-trip from DTW to East Lansing is $54 with an advanced purchase, for one adult. The bus generally runs 12-14 round trips per day between the hours of 4 AM and 11 PM. WiFi is available on all routes.

The Gerald R. Ford International Airport in Grand Rapids (GRR) and the Bishop International Airport (FNT) in Flint sometimes offer lower rates and are within 60 minutes driving distances.

Please contact the Manager for User Relations if you need assistance with your travel or lodging arrangements.


Assistance to Experimenters

  1. NSCL offers technical assistance compatible with Lab resources to users, for mechanical, electronic, and data acquisition needs when preparing for their experiments. All requests for technical assistance are initiated by the users submitting the form "Questionnaire for Scheduling Experiments." The NSCL provides information and design assistance to the extent that is compatible with its resources.

  2. Prior to their arrival at the NSCL, users receive a 5-page document entitled “Responsibilities of Experimenters at NSCL”. The focus of this document is on the procedures that are to be followed just prior to, during, and just after the performance of the experiment. This helps both the users and the NSCL staff by communicating expectations from both sides.

  3. When an experiment is scheduled, a member of the A1900 group is assigned as “A1900 Contact” to coordinate the planning of beam delivery. This contact person discusses with the spokesperson of the experiment the detailed secondary beam sequence plan and A1900 configuration. During the experiment, the A1900 group provides sustainable coverage of up to 16 hours/day on weekdays for full beam delivery support and on-call support in the event of facility breakdowns on nights and weekends.

  4. For experiments using the supported major experimental devices (the A1900 fragment separator, the S800 spectrograph, the Segmented germanium array and the Sweeper magnet), the NSCL provides Device Physicists who tune the devices and make sure they operate properly. The Device Physicists also provide readout and analysis software for these devices. For non-supported devices, the NSCL provides contact persons who are knowledgeable about the devices and can be approached for assistance.

  5. During the experiment, Data-U displays show a summary of the running conditions, for informing the users and for getting their immediate feedback.

  6. Interaction between experimenters and NSCL Operations staff is facilitated by two brief coordination meetings held every work day at the NSCL: a general meeting at 8 AM and a beam coordination meeting at 1:45 PM. Starting two days prior to the experiment and during the experiment, the spokesperson of the experiment or a designee participates daily in both meetings.

  7. NSCL assists its users by helping them find convenient, low-cost accommodation in hotels, guest apartments, and dormitory rooms. We also assist users with other aspects of their travel, e.g. by arranging for car rentals and pickups (by limousine or hotel van) at Lansing and Detroit airports.

  8. Some other facilities available to our users are:

    1. Desks with computers and wireless hookups;

    2. Offices for visiting graduate students and long-term visitors;

    3. Lockers for storing personal belongings;

    4. Access to MSU sports and exercise facilities.