More Hall Annex

More Hall Annex

The decommissioned More Hall Annex, photographed in 2009
Former names Nuclear Reactor Building (1961–2001)
General information
Type Nuclear power plant
Architectural style Brutalist
Address 3785 Jefferson Road NE
Seattle, Washington
Opened April 10, 1961 (1961-04-10)
Inaugurated June 1, 1961 (1961-06-01)
Closed June 30, 1988 (1988-06-30)
Demolished July 19, 2016 (2016-07-19)
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′10.09″N 122°18′16.08″W / 47.6528028°N 122.3044667°W / 47.6528028; -122.3044667Coordinates: 47°39′10.09″N 122°18′16.08″W / 47.6528028°N 122.3044667°W / 47.6528028; -122.3044667
Built 1961
Architectural style Brutalist
NRHP Reference # 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 (130 hp) (electric)
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 University of Washington (UW) in Seattle, Washington that once housed a functional nuclear research reactor.[3] The small research reactor was inaugurated in 1961 and shut down in 1988, operating at a peak of 100 kW thermal; it was officially decommissioned two decades later in 2007.

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 building's proposed demolition. The UW Board of Regents ultimately decided in February 2016 to demolish the structure, amid concerns from preservation groups and the city of Seattle; the building was demolished in July 2016 and will be replaced by a new computer science building.

Design and functions

The research reactor was a Argonaut class reactor with an initial output of 10 kW thermal, later increased to 100 kW in 1967, using Uranium-235 as fuel and cooled by water.[4] The reactor, placed on the lower floor of the facility, was 15 ft (4.6 m) high, 20 ft (6.1 m) long and 19 ft (5.8 m) wide.[5][6] Through its entire lifespan, the reactor operated for the equivalent of 140 days, running for some days at half power or for as little as 10 minutes.[7]

The building housing the reactor 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. The building occupies 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 university faculty known as The Architect Artist Group (TAAG) to be prominent on the campus and a "crown jewel" for the university's engineering department.[2]:5[4] The large glass windows enabled public viewing of the reactor room's interior, "proudly showcasing" the goings-on inside.[8]

The first floor, partially covered by a paved plaza above, housed the reactor, laboratory, crystal spectrometer, a counting room with a nuclear densometer, classrooms, restrooms and offices. The second floor contained an observatory and lecture room overlooking the reactor, a control room and was open to the outside plaza on three sides.[1][2] The reactor was placed on the lower side of the building, downhill of the plaza, to allow the ground to absorb radiation contamination from potential leaks.[4] The roof rests on a series of perpendicular beams that also support the weight of a 3-short-ton (2,700 kg) crane used to lift the reactor shield.[2]

History

Interior of the decommissioned reactor room, photographed in 2009

During the late 1950s and 1960s, the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) provided universities and colleges with grants to acquire small nuclear reactors for research programs. The University of Washington began nuclear engineering classes as part of the College of Engineering in 1953 and formed a Department of Nuclear Engineering in 1956, using the influence of the nearby Hanford Site as well as Boeing and the city's maritime industries.[4][9] The Nuclear Engineering department used training reactors at Bagley Hall and later proposed that the university acquire a nuclear reactor to be installed on-campus; in 1957, the AEC approved $100,000 in funding to University of Washington to install a permanent nuclear reactor on the campus, the first of its kind in the nation.[4][10][11]

The proposed 10 kW reactor was approved by the university's board of regents in April 1959, proposing a two-story reinforced concrete building with the reactor, offices, workshops, a control room, and class and seminar spaces. The building would be designed by prominent architects Wendell Lovett, Gene Zema and Daniel Streissguth.[12] The regents later awarded the construction contract for the project in December to Jentoft & Forbes, who would be paid $308,082; the building would be located on the eastern edge of the campus at a site proximate to various academic engineering buildings and to "promote the apparent safety of nuclear energy" by being located directly on campus.[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.[5] It was officially dedicated on June 1, in a ceremony attended by Dr. Norman Hilberry of the Argonne National Laboratory, who worked on Chicago Pile-1, the world's first nuclear reactor to achieve criticality.[14][15] During the 1962 World's Fair, hosted by the city at the Seattle Center, the reactor became the subject of group tours from professional organizations.[16]

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-timers (most of whom were students who worked for the 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 involving the use of a plutonium sample, three lab workers were exposed to radiation, 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 later cleared of any contamination. The spill was later linked to vibrations in the capsule holding the sample,[21] and workers credited good design and careful handling to avoid a larger incident. A visiting class of schoolchildren from Montana were observing the reactor from the outside and 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.[21]

The university was cited by the AEC over issues related to the reactor, but none in direct connection to the incident. The staff were praised by the AEC for their actions to avoid endangering the public, by sealing the materials and evacuating the building for six hours.[24]

Shutdown and decommissioning

In the late 1970s, development of nuclear power in the United States slowed to a halt, as new plants were cancelled or put on hold. The financial collapse of the Washington Public Power Supply System, a government agency planning to build five large nuclear power plants throughout the state, in 1983, and the Three Mile Island accident of 1979 both contributed to a decline in interest in the university's nuclear program. By 1988, the enrollment in UW's nuclear engineering program shrunk to 23 students,[25] and it was cancelled entirely in 1992.[26] Student use of the reactor was replaced by commercial use to produce nuclear isotopes for medical fields.[4]

The reactor was shut down on June 30, 1988,[6][4] following a Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) mandate to convert research reactors to lower-grade fuel, or shut down entirely, after fears of possible terrorist access.[7][27] The remaining 4 kilograms (8.8 lb) of enriched uranium fuel rods were transported to Idaho for processing and disposal.[28] The University of Washington applied to the NRC to dismantle the reactor on August 2, 1994, formally beginning the process to decommission the reactor.[29]

In the wake of the September 11, 2001 attacks, the Nuclear Reactor Building was renamed to the More Hall Annex to deter thieves, after a request from the NRC.[30] Formal decommissioning of the site, including a $4 million cleanup, began in April 2006, amid student protests over the contractor hired for the work.[31] The NRC formally terminated the university's license to operate the reactor in May 2007.[6]

Preservation attempts

Prior to the removal of the reactor in October 2008,[4] the university proposed demolishing the structure and redeveloping the site for other uses.[32] The plan was stopped after the reactor building was placed on the Washington Heritage Register, the state's list of historic buildings, a designation that was contested by the University of Washington.[33] Preservationists suggested re-using the building as a museum dedicated to the state's nuclear history and continuing research.[34] The structure was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2009, based on an application from UW architecture student Abby Inpanbutr (then Abby Martin) submitted in spring 2008.[8][35][36]

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 Center for Computer Science and Engineering.[37] It was named in May 2015 as one of Washington's "most endangered historic properties" by the Washington Trust for Historic Preservation, citing its place as an early Brutalist work as worth 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 with 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 would be exempt from the city's landmarks-preservation ordinance and could proceed with demolition of the More Hall Annex.[42] While the city appealed the decision, it allowed the demolition of the More Hall Annex to proceed.[43][44]

Demolition

Demolition work on the site of More Hall Annex in late July 2016

On February 11, 2016, the UW Board of Regents approved a site plan that would demolish the More Hall Annex for the new computer science center, to open in 2019.[3][45] 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 "digitally preserve" the building through a virtual tour made available online.[46]

While the demolition was in dispute, the university briefly considered the plaza adjacent to More Hall Annex as a site for a homeless tent city, to help combat the city's homelessness crisis.[47]

After the decision from the King County Superior Court to exempt the building from city preservation ordinances, the university applied for a demolition permit in May 2016.[48][49] Demolition of the More Hall Annex began on July 19,[50] and preservationists held a wake for the building with Daniel Streissguth, one of the project's original architects.[51]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 The Johnson Partnership (August 2008). More Hall Annex: Historic Resources Addendum (PDF) (Report). University of Washington. Retrieved November 29, 2016.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Martin, Abby (June 10, 2009). National Register of Historic Places Registration Form: Nuclear Reactor Building (More Hall Annex) (Report). National Park Service. Retrieved November 29, 2016.
  3. 1 2 Long, Katherine (February 11, 2016). "UW regents vote to demolish old reactor building listed as historic". The Seattle Times. p. B1. Retrieved February 11, 2016.
  4. 1 2 "U.W. Nuclear Reactor In Operation". The Seattle Times. April 10, 1961. p. 7.
  5. 1 2 3 Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Notice of License Termination for University of Washington Research Reactor (UWAR). Federal Register. 72. Government Printing Office. pp. 50991–50992. Retrieved November 29, 2016.
  6. 1 2 Henderson, Diedtra (June 27, 1991). "Fears over reactor dismantling—UW's neighbors want to be informed". The Seattle Times. p. C3. Retrieved November 29, 2016.
  7. 1 2 Lacitis, Erik (December 13, 2015). "UW's nuke-reactor building: cold, ugly — but worth saving?". The Seattle Times. p. A1. Retrieved November 29, 2016.
  8. ↑ Fussell, E.B. (December 23, 1956). "Atomic Age Sends Engineers Back To Classrooms". The Seattle Times. p. 8.
  9. ↑ "Test Set For U.W. Nuclear Reactor". The Seattle Times. November 26, 1957. p. 3.
  10. ↑ "U. of W. Ranks High in Nuclear Studies". The Seattle Times. October 6, 1957. p. 8.
  11. ↑ "Nuclear Facility Approved". The Seattle Times. April 18, 1959. p. 3.
  12. ↑ "U.W. Regents Let Contract For Nuclear-Reactor Building". The Seattle Times. December 19, 1959. p. 2.
  13. ↑ "Nuclear Reactor To Be Dedicated". The Seattle Times. May 28, 1961. p. 20.
  14. ↑ "A. E. C. Official Urges Greater Use of Brains". The Seattle Times. June 1, 1961. p. 3.
  15. ↑ "Reactor Tour Planned". The Seattle Times. March 21, 1962. p. 47.
  16. ↑ Giske, Howard (April 26, 1970). "U.W.'s Nuclear Reactor—Working to Benefit Society". The Seattle Times. p. 14.
  17. ↑ Sterling, E.M. (April 7, 1966). "U.W. Reactor May Become 'Detective'". The Seattle Times. p. 6.
  18. ↑ William, Hill (January 16, 1975). "A. E. C. security move not significant here". The Seattle Times. p. F4.
  19. ↑ "Three on U.W. staff exposed to radiation". The Seattle Times. June 14, 1972. p. G3.
  20. 1 2 Williams, Hill (October 2, 1972). "Leak in U.W. Reactor traced to vibration". The Seattle Times. p. 14.
  21. ↑ Williams, Hill (October 1, 1972). "Plutonium leak: day of suspense at U.W. plant". The Seattle Times. p. 2.
  22. ↑ Williams, Hill (October 3, 1972). "Reactor cleanup required patience". The Seattle Times. pp. B2–B3.
  23. ↑ Williams, Hill (November 12, 1972). "A.E.C. gave straight talk to U.W. over reactor accident". The Seattle Times. p. A14.
  24. ↑ Moriwaki, Lee (November 2, 1988). "Interest in nuclear engineering slides—enrollment at UW hits low point for '80s". The Seattle Times. p. G1.
  25. ↑ "Nuclear engineering is dropped by UW". The Seattle Times. October 26, 1992. p. B2.
  26. ↑ "WSU joins in opposing conversion". Eugene Register-Guard. July 10, 1984. p. 7B. Retrieved November 29, 2016 – via Google News Archive.
  27. ↑ Harrill, Rob (April 6, 2006). "Decommissioning of More Hall reactor concludes". UW Today. University of Washington. Retrieved November 29, 2016.
  28. ↑ 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. pp. 6292–6294. Retrieved November 29, 2016.
  29. ↑ Mari, Will (May 21, 2007). "Step into the UW's former nuclear reactor". The Daily.
  30. ↑ Perry, Nick (April 6, 2006). "UW to dismantle nuclear reactor". The Seattle Times. p. B2. Retrieved November 29, 2016.
  31. ↑ Berger, Knute (February 29, 2008). "An historic hot house". Crosscut.com. Retrieved November 29, 2016.
  32. ↑ Perry, Nick (October 20, 2008). "UW nuclear-reactor building is added to historic list". The Seattle Times. Associated Press. p. B4. Retrieved November 29, 2016.
  33. ↑ Berger, Knute (April 27, 2008). "How about a nuclear museum on the UW campus?". Crosscut.com. Retrieved November 29, 2016.
  34. ↑ Cheek, Lawrence (April 28, 2008). "On Architecture: What Seattle buildings to save". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Retrieved November 29, 2016.
  35. ↑ Berger, Knute (October 4, 2009). "Score one for Seattle's historic nuke site". Crosscut.com. Retrieved November 29, 2016.
  36. ↑ "UW planning $110M Allen Center expansion". Seattle Daily Journal of Commerce. April 30, 2015. Retrieved November 29, 2016.
  37. ↑ Bhatt, Sanjay (May 9, 2015). "UW's historic nuclear plant is 'endangered'". The Seattle Times. p. D1. Retrieved November 29, 2016.
  38. ↑ "Public notice: Availability of a draft supplemental environmental impact statement (DEIS) — CSE II Project". UW Today. University of Washington. October 7, 2015. Retrieved November 29, 2016.
  39. ↑ Berger, Knute (February 14, 2016). "UW launches attack on city's historic preservation powers". Crosscut.com. Retrieved November 29, 2016.
  40. ↑ Resse, Madelyn (January 12, 2016). "Former Nuclear Reactor Building might not get saved". The Daily. Retrieved November 29, 2016.
  41. ↑ Long, Katherine (April 16, 2016). "UW can disregard Seattle's landmark law, judge rules". The Seattle Times. p. B1. Retrieved November 29, 2016.
  42. ↑ Long, Katherine (May 12, 2016). "City of Seattle appeals UW More Hall Annex demolition decision". The Seattle Times. p. B2. Retrieved November 29, 2016.
  43. ↑ Berger, Knute (July 17, 2016). "Preservationists throw in the towel on historic nuclear building". Crosscut.com. Retrieved November 29, 2016.
  44. ↑ "Computer Science & Engineering 2: Approve Project Site, Preferred Development Alternative and Mitigation" (PDF). University of Washington. February 11, 2016. Retrieved November 29, 2016.
  45. ↑ Reese, Madelyn (February 11, 2016). "Board of regents discusses animal testing, raises orientation fee". The Daily. Retrieved November 29, 2016.
  46. ↑ Oxley, Richard D. (April 1, 2016). "UW considering placing homeless tent city on Seattle campus". MyNorthwest.com. Retrieved November 29, 2016.
  47. ↑ Berger, Knute (May 11, 2016). "While city appeals, UW plans to knock down historic building". Crosscut.com. Retrieved November 29, 2016.
  48. ↑ Kloub, Mohammed (June 3, 2016). "UW to demolish More Hall Annex, remove 44 trees". The Daily. Retrieved November 29, 2016.
  49. ↑ Berger, Knute (July 21, 2016). "UW's 'Nuke Building' bites the dust". Crosscut.com. Retrieved November 29, 2016.
  50. ↑ Berger, Knute (August 11, 2016). "Funeral for a piece of Seattle's atomic past". Crosscut.com. Retrieved November 29, 2016.

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