More Hall Annex
More Hall Annex | |
---|---|
Seattle, Washington | |
Opened | April 10, 1961 |
Inaugurated | June 1, 1961 |
Closed | June 30, 1988 |
Demolished | July 19, 2016 |
Owner | University of Washington |
Dimensions | |
Other dimensions | 69 ft 8 in by 76 ft (21.23 m by 23 m) |
Technical details | |
Material | Reinforced concrete |
Size | 7,595 sq ft (705.6 m2) |
Floor count | 2 |
Design and construction | |
Architecture firm | The Architect Artist Group |
Designations | NRHP, WSHR |
Nuclear Reactor Building | |
Location | Seattle, Washington |
Coordinates | 47°39′10″N 122°18′16″W / 47.65278°N 122.30444°W |
Built | 1961 |
Architectural style | Brutalist |
NRHP reference No. | 08001158 |
Added to NRHP | July 24, 2009 |
References | |
[1][2] |
Nuclear Reactor Building | |
---|---|
Operating Institution | University of Washington |
Location | Seattle, Washington |
Type | Argonaut class reactor |
Power | 100 kW (thermal) |
First Criticality | 1961 |
Shutdown date | 1988 |
Decommission date | 2007 |
Technical Specifications | |
Fuel Type | Uranium-235 |
The More Hall Annex, formerly the Nuclear Reactor Building, was a building on the campus of the
The reactor was housed in a reinforced concrete building designed in the Brutalist architectural style by UW faculty members. They designed the reactor room with large windows that allowed observation from the outside, in an attempt to demonstrate the safety of nuclear energy.
The Nuclear Reactor Building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2009, after a campaign led by an architecture student in response to the proposed demolition of the building. A later demolition plan prompted a lawsuit from preservation groups, which ended with a court ruling exempting the building from the city's landmarks-preservation ordinance. While this decision was eventually overturned, the university demolished the building in July 2016 and replaced it with a new computer science building that opened in February 2019.
Design and functions
The building housed an
The More Hall Annex was a two-story, reinforced concrete structure designed in the Brutalist style, similar to other buildings on the university campus built during the post-war era. It occupied a footprint of 69 ft 8 in (21.23 m) from north to south and 76 ft (23 m) from east to west, with a total of 7,595 square feet (705.6 m2) of interior space.[1][2] The building was designed by a consortium of UW faculty members, known as The Architect Artist Group (TAAG), with input from nuclear engineering department chair Albert L. Babb. Babb requested a building that would "show the world what nuclear power looked like", desiring a prominent structure on the campus that would serve as a crown jewel for the department.[2]: 5 [3] The large glass walls enabled public viewing of the reactor room's interior, showcasing the activity inside.[7]
The first floor, partly covered by the outdoor
History
During the late 1950s and 1960s, the
The proposed 10 kW reactor was approved by the university's Board of Regents in April 1959, to be housed in a two-story reinforced concrete building with offices, workshops, a control room, and class and seminar spaces. The building was designed by TAAG architects Wendell Lovett, Gene Zema and Daniel Streissguth, all members of the UW faculty.[12] In December, the regents awarded the construction contract to Jentoft & Forbes, paying $308,082 (equivalent to $2.46 million in 2023 dollars)[9] for the project. A site at the eastern edge of the campus was chosen for its proximity to various academic engineering buildings and its visibility to the public.[1][13]
The AEC granted an operating license for the reactor to the university in April 1961, and the reactor began operating with a self-sustained nuclear reaction on April 10.
Throughout the 1960s, the reactor was used for medical research by the university's School of Medicine and local hospitals, with a staff of six full-time employees and four part-time staff (most of whom were students who worked for the U.S. Navy's nuclear programs).[17] In 1966, the university and local law enforcement agencies proposed converting the reactor into a part-time laboratory for forensic science.[18] By 1975, the reactor had only used 10 grams (0.35 oz) of its 3,300 g (120 oz) of uranium-235 fuel.[19]
1972 plutonium spill
On June 13, 1972, during an experiment that used a plutonium sample, three lab workers were exposed to radiation after a capsule holding the sample spilled, requiring a full investigation of the nuclear reactor.[20] One of the workers, graduate student W. Robert Sloan, was exposed to 42 milligrams (0.65 gr) of plutonium dust and drove to a laboratory in Richland to be tested for radiation, but was found to have not been significantly contaminated. The spill was later linked to vibrations in the capsule holding the sample,[21] and workers credited good design and careful handling in avoiding a larger incident. A visiting class of schoolchildren from Montana, observing the reactor from the outside, were unaffected by the accident.[22] After an inspection by teams from the Hanford Site, the lab was cleaned and wiped down while periodic radiation checks were performed. Contaminated materials were sanitized with a liquid freon solution and disposed of;[23] the clean-up cost a total of $30,000 in emergency funds (equivalent to $166,000 in 2023 dollars).[9][21]
The university was cited by the AEC for violations of its reactor-operating license in connection with the incident, but none in direct connection to the immediate cause. The incident resulted in an investigation by the
Shutdown and decommissioning
In the late 1970s, development of
The reactor was shut down on June 30, 1988,[3][5] following a Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) mandate to convert research reactors to lower-grade fuel, or shut them down entirely, after fears of possible terrorist access.[6][27] The remaining 4 kilograms (8.8 lb) of enriched uranium fuel rods were transported to Idaho for processing and disposal.[28] The building provided offices and storage space for various UW departments, including the College of Engineering's robotics laboratory.[29] The University of Washington applied to the NRC to dismantle the reactor on August 2, 1994.[30]
In the wake of the
Preservation attempts
Prior to the removal of the reactor in October 2008,
The university again proposed demolition of the structure in 2015, to clear the space for a new computer science building adjacent to the existing Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science & Engineering.[37] In May 2015, the More Hall Annex was named one of Washington's "most endangered historic properties" by the Washington Trust for Historic Preservation, which cited its place as an early Brutalist work to justify its preservation.[38]
The university released a draft supplemental environmental impact statement (SEIS) for the project in October 2015, recommending the demolition of the More Hall Annex in their preferred alternative.[39] In response to the SEIS, building conservation group Docomomo WEWA nominated the More Hall Annex for city landmark status on December 2. The University of Washington filed a lawsuit against the City of Seattle and Docomomo on December 18 over the landmark nomination and whether the city could enforce its landmark preservation laws on state-owned property.[40][41]
The King County Superior Court ruled in April that the university was exempt from the city's landmarks-preservation ordinance and could go ahead with demolition of the More Hall Annex.[42] While the city and preservationists appealed the decision, they allowed the demolition of the More Hall Annex to proceed by not seeking a stay that would leave them responsible for damages compensation.[43][44] The decision was appealed to the Washington Supreme Court,[45] which ruled in the city's favor and rejected the university's claimed exemption from the city landmarks preservation ordinance.[46]
Demolition
On February 11, 2016, the UW Board of Regents approved a site plan that would demolish the More Hall Annex to allow for the construction of the new computer science center, to open in 2019.[47][48] An attempt to incorporate elements of the nuclear reactor into the new computer science building was rejected because of the impact of potential seismic retrofits that would be required to meet modern standards. The computer science department instead plans to make a virtual tour of the building available online in a digital archive.[49]
After the decision by the King County Superior Court to exempt the building from city preservation ordinances, the university applied for a demolition permit in May 2016.[50][51] Demolition of the More Hall Annex began on July 19,[52] and preservationists held a mock funeral for the building with Daniel Streissguth, one of the project's original architects.[53]
Replacement
The More Hall Annex was replaced by the Bill & Melinda Gates Center for Computer Science & Engineering, which houses part of the university's computer science program.[54][55] The 130,000-square-foot (12,000 m2) building includes a 250-person lecture hall, classrooms, and lab spaces for robotics and other technologies.[56] In January 2017, the Board of Regents approved its construction,[57] which began later in the year.[58] The building was topped out in December 2017, roughly marking the halfway point in construction.[59] The Bill & Melinda Gates Center was opened to students on February 28, 2019.[60][61]
References
- ^ a b c d The Johnson Partnership (August 2008). More Hall Annex: Historic Resources Addendum (PDF) (Report). University of Washington. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 1, 2017. Retrieved November 29, 2016.
- ^ a b c d e Martin, Abby (June 10, 2009). National Register of Historic Places Registration: Nuclear Reactor Building (More Hall Annex) (Report). National Park Service. Retrieved November 29, 2016, with 12 photos from 2007–08
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Ott, Jennifer (March 3, 2013). "Nuclear Reactor Building on the University of Washington campus is dedicated on June 1, 1961". HistoryLink. Archived from the original on November 30, 2016. Retrieved November 29, 2016.
- ^ a b "U.W. Nuclear Reactor In Operation". The Seattle Times. April 10, 1961. p. 7.
- ^ Government Printing Office: 50991–50992. Archivedfrom the original on December 1, 2016. Retrieved November 29, 2016.
- ^ a b Henderson, Diedtra (June 27, 1991). "Fears over reactor dismantling—UW's neighbors want to be informed". The Seattle Times. p. C3. Archived from the original on December 1, 2016. Retrieved November 29, 2016.
- ^ a b Lacitis, Erik (December 13, 2015). "UW's nuke-reactor building: cold, ugly — but worth saving?". The Seattle Times. p. A1. Archived from the original on June 21, 2016. Retrieved November 29, 2016.
- ^ Fussell, E.B. (December 23, 1956). "Atomic Age Sends Engineers Back To Classrooms". The Seattle Times. p. 8.
- ^ Gross Domestic Product deflatorfigures follow the MeasuringWorth series.
- ^ "Test Set For U.W. Nuclear Reactor". The Seattle Times. November 26, 1957. p. 3.
- ^ "U. of W. Ranks High in Nuclear Studies". The Seattle Times. October 6, 1957. p. 8.
- ^ "Nuclear Facility Approved". The Seattle Times. April 18, 1959. p. 3.
- ^ "U.W. Regents Let Contract For Nuclear-Reactor Building". The Seattle Times. December 19, 1959. p. 2.
- ^ "Nuclear Reactor To Be Dedicated". The Seattle Times. May 28, 1961. p. 20.
- ^ "A. E. C. Official Urges Greater Use of Brains". The Seattle Times. June 1, 1961. p. 3.
- ^ "Reactor Tour Planned". The Seattle Times. March 21, 1962. p. 47.
- ^ Giske, Howard (April 26, 1970). "U.W.'s Nuclear Reactor—Working to Benefit Society". The Seattle Times. p. 14.
- ^ Sterling, E.M. (April 7, 1966). "U.W. Reactor May Become 'Detective'". The Seattle Times. p. 6.
- ^ William, Hill (January 16, 1975). "A. E. C. security move not significant here". The Seattle Times. p. F4.
- ^ "Three on U.W. staff exposed to radiation". The Seattle Times. June 14, 1972. p. G3.
- ^ a b Williams, Hill (October 2, 1972). "Leak in U.W. Reactor traced to vibration". The Seattle Times. p. 14.
- ^ Williams, Hill (October 1, 1972). "Plutonium leak: day of suspense at U.W. plant". The Seattle Times. p. 2.
- ^ Williams, Hill (October 3, 1972). "Reactor cleanup required patience". The Seattle Times. pp. B2–B3.
- ^ Williams, Hill (November 12, 1972). "A.E.C. gave straight talk to U.W. over reactor accident". The Seattle Times. p. A14.
- ^ Moriwaki, Lee (November 2, 1988). "Interest in nuclear engineering slides—enrollment at UW hits low point for '80s". The Seattle Times. p. G1.
- ^ "Nuclear engineering is dropped by UW". The Seattle Times. October 26, 1992. p. B2.
- Newspapers.com.
- ^ Harrill, Rob (April 6, 2006). "Decommissioning of More Hall reactor concludes". UW Today. University of Washington. Archived from the original on November 22, 2016. Retrieved November 29, 2016.
- ^ a b Mari, Will (May 21, 2007). "Step into the UW's former nuclear reactor". The Daily. Archived from the original on September 19, 2007. Retrieved February 28, 2017.
- ^ Nuclear Regulatory Commission (February 7, 2006). "In the Matter of the University of Washington; (The University of Washington Research Reactor); Order Modifying Requirements for Dismantling of Facility and Disposition of Component Parts". Federal Register. 71. Government Printing Office: 6292–6294. Archived from the original on October 25, 2016. Retrieved November 29, 2016.
- ^ Perry, Nick (April 6, 2006). "UW to dismantle nuclear reactor". The Seattle Times. p. B2. Archived from the original on March 1, 2017. Retrieved November 29, 2016.
- ^ Berger, Knute (February 29, 2008). "An historic hot house". Crosscut.com. Archived from the original on November 30, 2016. Retrieved November 29, 2016.
- ^ Perry, Nick (October 20, 2008). "UW nuclear-reactor building is added to historic list". The Seattle Times. Associated Press. p. B4. Archived from the original on November 30, 2016. Retrieved November 29, 2016.
- ^ Berger, Knute (April 27, 2008). "How about a nuclear museum on the UW campus?". Crosscut.com. Archived from the original on November 30, 2016. Retrieved November 29, 2016.
- ^ Cheek, Lawrence (April 28, 2008). "On Architecture: What Seattle buildings to save". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Archived from the original on November 30, 2016. Retrieved November 29, 2016.
- ^ Berger, Knute (October 4, 2009). "Score one for Seattle's historic nuke site". Crosscut.com. Archived from the original on November 30, 2016. Retrieved November 29, 2016.
- ^ "UW planning $110M Allen Center expansion". Seattle Daily Journal of Commerce. April 30, 2015. Archived from the original on March 1, 2017. Retrieved November 29, 2016.
- ^ Bhatt, Sanjay (May 9, 2015). "UW's historic nuclear plant is 'endangered'". The Seattle Times. p. D1. Archived from the original on March 1, 2017. Retrieved November 29, 2016.
- ^ "Public notice: Availability of a draft supplemental environmental impact statement (DEIS) — CSE II Project". UW Today. University of Washington. October 7, 2015. Archived from the original on November 19, 2016. Retrieved November 29, 2016.
- ^ Berger, Knute (February 14, 2016). "UW launches attack on city's historic preservation powers". Crosscut.com. Archived from the original on October 1, 2016. Retrieved November 29, 2016.
- ^ Resse, Madelyn (January 12, 2016). "Former Nuclear Reactor Building might not get saved". The Daily. Archived from the original on December 1, 2017. Retrieved November 29, 2016.
- ^ Long, Katherine (April 16, 2016). "UW can disregard Seattle's landmark law, judge rules". The Seattle Times. p. B1. Archived from the original on September 23, 2016. Retrieved November 29, 2016.
- ^ Long, Katherine (May 12, 2016). "City of Seattle appeals UW More Hall Annex demolition decision". The Seattle Times. p. B2. Archived from the original on March 1, 2017. Retrieved November 29, 2016.
- ^ Berger, Knute (July 17, 2016). "Preservationists throw in the towel on historic nuclear building". Crosscut.com. Archived from the original on March 1, 2017. Retrieved November 29, 2016.
- ^ Berger, Knute (June 26, 2017). "Fate of UW campus in hands of state Supreme Court". Crosscut.com. Archived from the original on June 27, 2017. Retrieved June 26, 2017.
- ^ "UW must follow city's landmarks law, Washington state Supreme Court rules". The Seattle Times. July 20, 2017. Archived from the original on July 20, 2017. Retrieved July 20, 2017.
- ^ Long, Katherine (February 11, 2016). "UW regents vote to demolish old reactor building listed as historic". The Seattle Times. p. B1. Archived from the original on February 13, 2016. Retrieved February 11, 2016.
- ^ "Computer Science & Engineering 2: Approve Project Site, Preferred Development Alternative and Mitigation" (PDF). University of Washington. February 11, 2016. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 21, 2016. Retrieved November 29, 2016.
- ^ Reese, Madelyn (February 11, 2016). "Board of regents discusses animal testing, raises orientation fee". The Daily. Archived from the original on December 14, 2018. Retrieved November 29, 2016.
- ^ Berger, Knute (May 11, 2016). "While city appeals, UW plans to knock down historic building". Crosscut.com. Archived from the original on March 15, 2017. Retrieved November 29, 2016.
- ^ Kloub, Mohammed (June 3, 2016). "UW to demolish More Hall Annex, remove 44 trees". The Daily. Retrieved November 29, 2016.
- ^ Berger, Knute (July 21, 2016). "UW's 'Nuke Building' bites the dust". Crosscut.com. Archived from the original on July 22, 2016. Retrieved November 29, 2016.
- ^ Berger, Knute (August 11, 2016). "Funeral for a piece of Seattle's atomic past". Crosscut.com. Archived from the original on March 14, 2017. Retrieved November 29, 2016.
- ^ Long, Katherine (October 12, 2017). "New UW computer science and engineering building named for Bill and Melinda Gates". The Seattle Times. Retrieved December 14, 2017.
- ^ "Support CSE2 – A second building for UW Computer Science & Engineering". Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science & Engineering. Archived from the original on July 2, 2017. Retrieved August 14, 2017.
- ^ Dasgupta, Hanna (January 18, 2017). "CSE program to double in size by 2019". The Daily. Retrieved August 14, 2017.
- ^ Soper, Taylor (January 12, 2017). "University of Washington approves funding plan for new computer science building". GeekWire. Retrieved August 14, 2017.
- ^ Stiles, Marc (June 22, 2017). "Ahead of the crane: Mortenson Construction augments reality on UW project". Puget Sound Business Journal. Retrieved August 14, 2017.
- ^ Langston, Jennifer (December 13, 2017). "University of Washington celebrates fundraising and construction milestones for second computer science building". University of Washington. Retrieved December 14, 2017.
- ^ Holtz, Jackson (February 28, 2019). "Bill & Melinda Gates Center opens a new era of computer science education and innovation at the University of Washington". University of Washington. Retrieved February 28, 2019.
- ^ Goerz, Thelonious (February 25, 2019). "What it really looks like to be a computer science hopeful". The Daily. Retrieved February 28, 2019.
External links
- Building profile Archived December 26, 2016, at the Wayback Machine at Docomomo WEWA
- Historic footage of reactor, 1963 from UW Libraries
- Save the Reactor, a historic preservation campaign for the building
- YouTube video tour from PreserveWA