50TH ANNIVERSARY OF SANDIA'S OLDEST BUILDING
Sandians who regularly use Gate 4 next to Medical
probably haven't noticed the rambling old wooden building just
southwest of the gate inside the Tech Area. Those who have probably
assumed that the structure is soon due for demolition. Well,
not quite. But the future of the old building, officially Building
828, is in question and an important consideration is its historic
significance.
Building 828 was constructed in 1946 as the first
permanent building built for Sandia as part of the Manhattan
Engineering District Project. Sandia was then part of Los Alamos
Laboratory; it became Sandia Corporation in 1949. Building 828
is the only remaining structure that dates to the Labs' formative
years. It was used for non-nuclear assembly of War Reserve nuclear
weapons during the late 1940s and early 1950s. The 50-year-old
building is the most visible symbol of Sandia's historic roots
in the U.S. nuclear weapons program.
Correction |
Upon further research, the History
Program has discovered that Building 828 was not used
for weapon assembly. It was built as a mechanical
test laboratory. We apologize for the error.
Building 828's historical significance
was assessed in compliance with the National Historic
Preservation Act; the building has no historical
significance in the national context. The building
has been decontaminated and demolished. However,
due to its importance within Sandia-as a symbol of the
Labs' roots in the Manhattan Project-a monument is planned
for the CNSAC mall, using the frame from the 828 monorail
as a centerpiece. |
Renovation of Building 828 would maintain a key
historic tie to Sandia's long-term mission of providing engineering
support for the U.S. nuclear stockpile. The renovation would
retain the external 1940s-vintage appearance characteristics
of Manhattan Engineering District structures, while the interior
could be converted to modern offices, perhaps to house public
outreach organizations. By having this visible, centrally located,
and proudly displayed reminder of our link with the Manhattan
Engineering District, a daily awareness of Sandia's past would
be imparted to newer employees who know little of Sandia's early
history. It would also reinforce the sense of mission always
before us. A proposal was submitted to Sites Planning urging
that Building 828 be renovated and used as a showplace for displaying
photographs and artifacts of Sandia's history. Unfortunately
the proposal scored rather low and the future of Building 828
does not look hopeful. It would be helpful to know what the
sentiment is for preservation of this building. Please call,
fax, or e-mail your opinion
to Carl J. Mora, Corporate Historian.
So the next time you walk by Building 828 wish it a happy
50th anniversary and hope that it is around for many more.
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NEWS FROM CORPORATE ARCHIVES
Corporate Archives has received some interesting
new collections from retired and soon-to-be-retired Sandians.
These collections include documentation and photographs from
Tom Martin (1193) and Ken Prestwich (retired) on the history
of the Pulsed Power Program at Sandia, materials from Bob
Graham (1152) on electroshock research at Sandia, and extensive
documentation from Mel Merritt (retired) on Sandia's work
and testing on Amchitka Island. These and many other smaller
collections of materials received by Corporate Archives provide
important documentation regarding these significant Sandia
programs. Please contact Archive Coordinator Myra
O'Canna, at 844-6315 if you have historical materials
to be considered for inclusion in the Corporate Archives collection.
Corporate Archives also solicits Sandia newsletters because
they are excellent resources. Please send copies of these
newsletters to MS 0612.
NEW EXHIBIT ON WOMEN AT SANDIA
Betty
Carrell was the first woman engineer hired at Sandia,
California. In this 1961 photograph she is examining a
telemetry package in the environmental testing lab.
|
The Sandia History Program's most recent exhibit,
"A Woman's Place is Where She Wants To Be: A History of Women
at Sandia," is a photographic overview of the essential roles
women have played in the Labs' history. Moving from Sandia's
early years, when women were most likely to hold traditionally
female jobs among the administrative and support staff, to
the present, when women have begun to break down barriers,
moving into both management and technical fields in increasing
numbers, the exhibit stresses the way the Labs mirror the
attitudes and practices of American culture and industry.
The exhibit is on display in the north hallway
of Building 894, at the Sandia Credit Union on Juan Tabo,
and at the National Atomic Museum until the end of May. The
Sandia History Program displays new historical photo exhibits
three times a year. For more information, contact Rebecca
Ullrich at 844-1483. |