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Nuclear Reactor Building

More Hall Annex
Demolished
  • Brutalist
  • Identity of Building/Site
  • History of Building/Site
  • Documentation

Nuclear Reactor Building

Fans of the Nuclear Reactor Building "heart bombs" the Nuclear Reactor Building on February 13, 2015. 

Credit

John Shea

Site overview

The Nuclear Reactor Building at the University of Washington hailed from the Atomic Age of the 1960s, representing nuclear engineering technology and contributing to the University’s science and research programs. The building was unique; it was an architectural, engineering, and artistic marvel dreamed up by a stellar team of University professors and alumni. It set itself apart from the rest of campus with its Brutalist architectural features. In 2014, plans for demolition of the Nuclear Reactor Building were resurrected by the University. The building made it on the Washington Trust's Most Endangered Properties list for a second time in 2015 (the first was in 2008) and preservation advocates rallied to Save the Reactor. In the end, the structure met its demise. (Adapted from Savethereactor.org)

Nuclear Reactor Building

Nuclear Reactor Building, west and south facades looking northeast, 2008

Credit

Abby Inpanbutr

Site overview

The Nuclear Reactor Building at the University of Washington hailed from the Atomic Age of the 1960s, representing nuclear engineering technology and contributing to the University’s science and research programs. The building was unique; it was an architectural, engineering, and artistic marvel dreamed up by a stellar team of University professors and alumni. It set itself apart from the rest of campus with its Brutalist architectural features. In 2014, plans for demolition of the Nuclear Reactor Building were resurrected by the University. The building made it on the Washington Trust's Most Endangered Properties list for a second time in 2015 (the first was in 2008) and preservation advocates rallied to Save the Reactor. In the end, the structure met its demise. (Adapted from Savethereactor.org)

Nuclear Reactor Building

Control Room in the Nuclear Reactor Building. 

Credit

University of Washington Special Collections

Site overview

The Nuclear Reactor Building at the University of Washington hailed from the Atomic Age of the 1960s, representing nuclear engineering technology and contributing to the University’s science and research programs. The building was unique; it was an architectural, engineering, and artistic marvel dreamed up by a stellar team of University professors and alumni. It set itself apart from the rest of campus with its Brutalist architectural features. In 2014, plans for demolition of the Nuclear Reactor Building were resurrected by the University. The building made it on the Washington Trust's Most Endangered Properties list for a second time in 2015 (the first was in 2008) and preservation advocates rallied to Save the Reactor. In the end, the structure met its demise. (Adapted from Savethereactor.org)

Nuclear Reactor Building

Supporters "heart bomb" the Nuclear Reactor building, February 13, 2015.

Credit

John Shea

Site overview

The Nuclear Reactor Building at the University of Washington hailed from the Atomic Age of the 1960s, representing nuclear engineering technology and contributing to the University’s science and research programs. The building was unique; it was an architectural, engineering, and artistic marvel dreamed up by a stellar team of University professors and alumni. It set itself apart from the rest of campus with its Brutalist architectural features. In 2014, plans for demolition of the Nuclear Reactor Building were resurrected by the University. The building made it on the Washington Trust's Most Endangered Properties list for a second time in 2015 (the first was in 2008) and preservation advocates rallied to Save the Reactor. In the end, the structure met its demise. (Adapted from Savethereactor.org)

Nuclear Reactor Building

View of the Nuclear Reactor Building behind a chain link fence but with all windows intact. 

Credit

Docomomo US/WEWA

Site overview

The Nuclear Reactor Building at the University of Washington hailed from the Atomic Age of the 1960s, representing nuclear engineering technology and contributing to the University’s science and research programs. The building was unique; it was an architectural, engineering, and artistic marvel dreamed up by a stellar team of University professors and alumni. It set itself apart from the rest of campus with its Brutalist architectural features. In 2014, plans for demolition of the Nuclear Reactor Building were resurrected by the University. The building made it on the Washington Trust's Most Endangered Properties list for a second time in 2015 (the first was in 2008) and preservation advocates rallied to Save the Reactor. In the end, the structure met its demise. (Adapted from Savethereactor.org)

Nuclear Reactor Building

Nuclear Reactor Building, west and south facades, view northeast, 2015

Credit

Jennifer Mortensen, Washington Trust for Historic Preservation

Site overview

The Nuclear Reactor Building at the University of Washington hailed from the Atomic Age of the 1960s, representing nuclear engineering technology and contributing to the University’s science and research programs. The building was unique; it was an architectural, engineering, and artistic marvel dreamed up by a stellar team of University professors and alumni. It set itself apart from the rest of campus with its Brutalist architectural features. In 2014, plans for demolition of the Nuclear Reactor Building were resurrected by the University. The building made it on the Washington Trust's Most Endangered Properties list for a second time in 2015 (the first was in 2008) and preservation advocates rallied to Save the Reactor. In the end, the structure met its demise. (Adapted from Savethereactor.org)

Nuclear Reactor Building

UW students put on a Reactor Party and Art installation in 2008. 

Credit

Eugenia Woo

Site overview

The Nuclear Reactor Building at the University of Washington hailed from the Atomic Age of the 1960s, representing nuclear engineering technology and contributing to the University’s science and research programs. The building was unique; it was an architectural, engineering, and artistic marvel dreamed up by a stellar team of University professors and alumni. It set itself apart from the rest of campus with its Brutalist architectural features. In 2014, plans for demolition of the Nuclear Reactor Building were resurrected by the University. The building made it on the Washington Trust's Most Endangered Properties list for a second time in 2015 (the first was in 2008) and preservation advocates rallied to Save the Reactor. In the end, the structure met its demise. (Adapted from Savethereactor.org)

Awards

Advocacy

Award of Excellence

Civic

2017

An Advocacy Award of Excellence is given to the Save the Reactor Campaign.

The role and impact of nuclear science during the Cold War is starting to be forgotten and thus the sites associated with the period are increasingly threatened as younger generations have little sense of this important period in our nation's history. Though the Nuclear Reactor building on the campus of the University of Washington was ultimately demolished, it is important to recognize Historic Seattle, the Washington Trust for Historic Preservation and Docomomo US/WEWA’s collaborative education and advocacy efforts that epitomize issues that Docomomo US and its Chapters and colleagues continue to encounter.”

 

Results of the dispute will be precedent-setting as the Washington State Supreme Court is expected to rule on the bearing of local preservation ordinances over state institutions of higher learning who claim exemption.

- Docomomo US Board of Directors
Restoration Team
  • Historic Seattle
  • Washington Trust for Historic Preservation
  • Docomomo US/WEWA

Primary classification

Education (EDC)

Designations

Washington Heritage Register (2008)

National Register of Historic Places (2009)

 

Location

3785 Jefferson Road NE
Seattle, WA, 98105

Country

US
More visitation information

Case Study House No. 21

Lorem ipsum dolor

Fans of the Nuclear Reactor Building "heart bombs" the Nuclear Reactor Building on February 13, 2015. 

Credit:

John Shea

Nuclear Reactor Building, west and south facades looking northeast, 2008

Credit:

Abby Inpanbutr

Control Room in the Nuclear Reactor Building. 

Credit:

University of Washington Special Collections

Supporters "heart bomb" the Nuclear Reactor building, February 13, 2015.

Credit:

John Shea

View of the Nuclear Reactor Building behind a chain link fence but with all windows intact. 

Credit:

Docomomo US/WEWA

Nuclear Reactor Building, west and south facades, view northeast, 2015

Credit:

Jennifer Mortensen, Washington Trust for Historic Preservation

UW students put on a Reactor Party and Art installation in 2008. 

Credit:

Eugenia Woo

Designer(s)

Other designers

TAAG (The Architects Artist Group) - Wendell Lovett, Dan Streissguth, Gene Zema

Gerald Torrence (Structural Engineer)

Spencer Moseley (Artist)

Related News

The Nuclear Reactor Building Saga Continues

Newsletter, Threatened, Advocacy, brutalism, WEWA

June 27, 2016

UPDATE: Save the Reactor

Newsletter, WEWA, Advocacy, Threatened

December 15, 2015

Saving a Cold War Era Building in Seattle

Newsletter, Threatened, Advocacy, brutalism, WEWA

October 21, 2015

Docomomo US/WEWA Wins Landmark Case in State Supreme Court

News, Update, Advocacy, WEWA

July 20, 2017

Celebrating the Best of Modernism

Newsletter, Modernism in America

October 12, 2017

Related chapter

Western Washington

Related Sites

Commission

1960

Completion

1961

References

National Register nomination form

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