eso1617 — Press Release
ESO Signs Largest Ever Ground-based Astronomy Contract for ELT Dome and Telescope Structure
25 May 2016: At a ceremony in Garching bei München, Germany on 25 May 2016, ESO signed the contract with the ACe Consortium, consisting of Astaldi, Cimolai and the nominated sub-contractor EIE Group, for the construction of the dome and telescope structure of the Extremely Large Telescope (ELT). This is the largest contract ever awarded by ESO and also the largest contract ever in ground-based astronomy. This occasion saw the unveiling of the construction design of the ELT. Construction of the dome and telescope structure will now commence.