Historical Overview

Construction of the Chemistry and Metallurgy Research (CMR) building began in 1949.

The CMR building was completed in 1952 and opened its doors as one of the world's first research and experimental facilities for analytical actinide chemistry, metallurgy and materials. The building consisted of six wings and an administration area and represented the highest standards in instrumentation and engineered safety controls. In 1959 a seventh laboratory wing was added.

In 1960, Los Alamos built Wing 9, a 64,000-square-foot addition containing hot cells with remote handling capabilities. The CMR building now contains roughly 550,000 square feet of laboratories and related facilities.

Many of the CMR facility systems and structural components are aged, outmoded, eroding, and generally deteriorating. The planned end-of-life of the CMR building is in approximately 2010. The Chemistry and Metallurgy Research Replacement (CMRR) project will replace the mission critical capabilities at CMR that would otherwise soon be lost.

See construction photos for the Radiological Laboratory/Utility/Office Building (RLUOB)