By CMS Communications

CMS has officially inaugurated its new control room in Cessy, France. Guests from CERN management and all the LHC experiments were invited to celebrate this significant upgrade to CMS’ operational infrastructure. The event took place on the 15th of May 2025 in and around the control room.

If CMS was a human body, the control room would serve as the central nervous system for the detector, where operators maintain constant vigilance over real-time detector operations, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. As the primary point of information in case of malfunctions, the control room is indispensable for ensuring the smooth, efficient, and safe operation of the entire CMS detector.

To accommodate the experiment's expanding needs, especially in preparation for the upcoming High-Luminosity Phase, a new facility has been constructed right next to the original control room. This new space, roughly double the size of its predecessor, was designed to enhance functionality and provide ample room for shifters overseeing both the existing and the future sub-detectors. Consequently, the original control room is now being repurposed as the dedicated Data Acquisition (DAQ) room, fulfilling its initial intended function.

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Group photo inside the new CMS Control Room during the inauguration celebrations. (Image: S. Hurst/CERN)

The transfer of all essential control systems, including safety systems and data monitoring, presented a significant logistical challenge. The relocation process had to be meticulously planned and executed during the annual year-end technical stop (YETS), when the detector is offline for maintenance and upgrades. This timeframe was crucial to minimize disruption to ongoing operations. Meeting the strict deadline, the successful transfer ensured the control room was fully operational by the end of the YETS, allowing data-taking to resume without delay.

Initially opened in March 2024, the new control room has already broken several data taking records, and has been slowly populated with more screens, functionality, and people.

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From left to right: Hafeez Hoorani (CMS deputy spokesperson), Gautier Hamel de Monchenault (CMS spokesperson), Giulia Negro (CMS deputy Run Coordinator), Joachim Mnich (CERN director of research), Anadi Canepa (CMS deputy spokesperson), Mark Thompson (future CERN director general), Filip Moortgat (CMS Run Coordinator), Andrea Massironi (CMS Run Coordinator) (Image: S. Hurst/CERN)

Lastly, the layout of the new space was strategically designed to prioritize both functionality and positive visitor experience. Key personnel – such as the shift leaders and the technical shifters – are positioned in a central circular area, ensuring rapid access to the main control panel and serving as the primary point of contact upon entering the control room. This layout also provides improved visibility for visitors, allowing them to witness the ongoing shifts and gain a better understanding of the CMS operations.

A huge thank you to everybody who made the inauguration possible!

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People enjoying the sunshine and refreshments during the inauguration. (Image: S.Hurst/CERN)
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Visitor admiring new CMS artwork by Jacquelyn Becker (Image: S. Hurst/CERN)

Further Information

Photos of the new control room

Photos of the control room inauguration

Timelapses of CMS Control Room construction (inside and out)

Poster detailing the layout of the new control room

Commemorative deck with photos of the old and new control room - (incoming)

 

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