Making every space work: Shannon Larson at Argonne

Shannon Larson is thrilled with her career debut. She eagerly relayed how she came to the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Argonne National Laboratory.

“Argonne is my first full-time position after graduating from Bradley University,” she said. ​“I never dreamed of getting a position here but was ecstatic when I got the opportunity!”

Larson, an amenities assistant at Argonne, learned about the lab through her mother, who’s worked at the laboratory for over a decade. In high school, Larson got to visit the campus. These visits made an impression.

“Argonne is doing incredibly impactful work for the world, and anyone who works here should feel proud to support the lab and build a career along the way. The opportunities are endless, and every piece of the puzzle matters.” — Shannon Larson, amenities assistant at Argonne 

“I was always amazed at the campus and the work done here,” she recalled.

Since joining the lab, Larson’s appreciation for Argonne has only grown.

“The culture at Argonne is unlike anything I have experienced before,” she said. ​“There’s a real commitment to safety and a strong sense of community. I feel truly valued here, and I know my work makes a difference.”

The Argonne community agrees with her assessment and nominated her to be featured in a We Are Argonne profile. Her dedication to teamwork has also earned her frequent recognition through Core Values shout-outs.

As an amenities assistant, Larson’s responsibility is to help manage conference rooms and assist the custodial staff with their schedules.

She also supports other amenities services, including dining venues and on-site conveniences like hybrid workspaces, vending services and the credit union. The indoor and outdoor fitness centers and child development center also fall under her purview. 

“I support the contractors who offer these services,” she explained. ​“I help with onboarding, gate passes, site access, internal communications and any other administrative tasks that are needed.”

Being part of the amenities team has been a great way for Larson to get better acquainted with the broader Argonne community.

“Because our services are available to anyone working at Argonne and even some visitors, I get to interact with many types of people from a wide range of backgrounds and experiences to help them get what they need,” she said. ​“I like to think our services support employee morale and build the strong social community that Argonne is known for.”

Through her role, Larson learned that supporting conferences, events and lab-wide initiatives from a facility perspective is important. Many logistical components need to be addressed in order for an event to happen smoothly.

“I oversee 14 conference rooms sitewide,” she said. ​“That’s over 28,000 square feet of event space! So, it can be challenging to make sure everyone is communicated to, and every detail is handled.”

The stream of events at Argonne means that Larson is continually learning.

“There are always situations that come up that serve as learning points for the next event,” Larson shared. ​“I like to reflect on those circumstances and plan ways to prevent them from happening again in the future.”

This planning is very rewarding to Larson. She admitted she enjoys being someone that people can come to when they need help or resources.

Though her work is not science- or research-based, Larson knows she’s helping Argonne achieve its mission by supporting the laboratory community.

“Argonne is doing incredibly impactful work for the world, and anyone who works here should feel proud to support the lab and build a career along the way,” Larson said. ​“The opportunities are endless and every piece of the puzzle matters.”

Argonne accelerates the science and technology that drive U.S. prosperity and security. Argonne staff are thinkers, builders, problem-solvers and caretakers — every person and every role contributes to the laboratory’s impact on the world.