View source for Physics:More Hall Annex

{{Short description|Former nuclear laboratory in historic building, Seattle, Washington, U.S.}}
{{Infobox building
| name                = More Hall Annex
| image               = U of Washington Nuclear Reactor Building pano 01.jpg
| image_size          =
| image_alt           = A concrete structure with an overhanging roof and large glass windows. The interior appears to be empty, with no equipment or lights.
| image_caption       = The decommissioned More Hall Annex, photographed in 2009
| former_names        = Nuclear Reactor Building (1961–2001)
| alternate_names     =
| status              =
| building_type       = Nuclear research reactor
| architectural_style = Brutalist
| address             = 3785 Jefferson Road NE<br />Seattle, Washington
| altitude            =
| namesake            =
| groundbreaking_date =
| start_date          =
| est_completion      =
| topped_out_date     =
| completion_date     =
| opened_date         = {{start date|1961|04|10}}
| inauguration_date   = {{start date|1961|06|01}}
| closing_date        = {{end date|1988|06|30}}
| demolition_date     = {{end date|2016|07|19}}
| cost                =
| client              =
| owner               = [[Organization:University of Washington|University of Washington]]
| roof                =
| top_floor           =
| observatory         =
| diameter            =
| circumference       =
| weight              =
| other_dimensions    = <!--Do not combine templates, ranged values cannot handle inches-->69&nbsp;ft&nbsp;8&nbsp;in&nbsp;by&nbsp;76&nbsp;ft ({{convert|69|ft|8|in|m|disp=output number only}}&nbsp;m&nbsp;by&nbsp;{{convert|76|ft|m|disp=output number only}}&nbsp;m)
| structural_system   =
| material            = [[Physics:Reinforced concrete|Reinforced concrete]]
| size                = {{convert|7,595|sqft|sqm|abbr=on}}
| floor_count         = 2
| floor_area          =
| elevator_count      =
| grounds_area        =
| architect           =
| architecture_firm   = The Architect Artist Group
| developer           =
| engineer            =
| structural_engineer =
| services_engineer   =
| civil_engineer      =
| other_designers     =
| quantity_surveyor   =
| main_contractor     =
| awards              =
| designations        = NRHP, WSHR
| known_for           =
| embedded            = {{Infobox NRHP |embed=yes
| name                 = Nuclear Reactor Building
| nrhp_type            =
| locmapin             = Washington
| coordinates          = {{coord|47|39|10|N|122|18|16|W|display=inline,title}}
| location             = Seattle, Washington
| built                = 1961
| architect            =
| architecture         = Brutalist
| added                = July 24, 2009
| delisted             =
| designated_nrhp_type =
| refnum               = 08001158
}}
| references          = <ref name="UWReport-2008">{{cite report |title=More Hall Annex: Historic Resources Addendum |url=http://cpd.uw.edu/cpo/sites/default/files/More%20Hall%20Annex%20HRA.pdf |author=The Johnson Partnership |date=August 2008 |publisher=[[Organization:University of Washington|University of Washington]] |access-date=November 29, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170301180212/http://cpd.uw.edu/cpo/sites/default/files/More%20Hall%20Annex%20HRA.pdf |archive-date=March 1, 2017 |df=mdy-all }}</ref><ref name="NRHP">{{cite report |last=Martin |first=Abby |date=June 10, 2009 |title=National Register of Historic Places Registration: Nuclear Reactor Building (More Hall Annex) |url={{NRHP url|id=08001158}} |publisher=National Park Service |postscript=none |access-date=November 29, 2016}}, with {{NRHP url|id=08001158|photos=y|title=12 photos from 2007–08}}</ref>
| footnotes           =
}}
{{Infobox reactor
| name               = Nuclear Reactor Building
| image              =
| image_size         =
| alt                =
| caption            =
| institution        = [[Organization:University of Washington|University of Washington]]
| location           = Seattle, Washington
| type               = [[Physics:Argonaut class reactor|Argonaut class reactor]]
| power              = 100&nbsp;kW
| power_therm_elec   = thermal
| first_crit         = 1961
| shutdown           = 1988
| decommission       = 2007
| fuel_type          = [[Physics:Uranium-235|Uranium-235]]
}}

The '''More Hall Annex''', formerly the '''Nuclear Reactor Building''', was a building on the campus of the [[Organization:University of Washington|University of Washington]] (UW) in Seattle, Washington, United States, that once housed a functional nuclear research reactor. It was inaugurated in 1961 and shut down in 1988, operating at a peak of 100 [[Kilowatt|kilowatt]]s thermal (kWt), and was officially decommissioned in 2007.

The reactor was housed in a [[Physics:Reinforced concrete|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|computer science]] building that opened in February 2019.

==Design and functions==

The building housed an [[Physics:Argonaut class reactor|Argonaut class reactor]] with an initial output of 10 [[Kilowatt|kilowatt]]s thermal (kWt), later increased to 100 kWt in 1967. It used [[Physics:Uranium-235|uranium-235]] as fuel and was cooled by water.<ref name="HistoryLink">{{cite web |last=Ott |first=Jennifer |date=March 3, 2013 |title=Nuclear Reactor Building on the University of Washington campus is dedicated on June 1, 1961. |url=http://www.historylink.org/File/10333 |work=[[HistoryLink]] |access-date=November 29, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161130185157/http://www.historylink.org/File/10333 |archive-date=November 30, 2016 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> The reactor's chamber, placed on the lower floor of the facility, was {{convert|15|ft|m|abbr=on}} high, {{convert|20|ft|m|abbr=on}} long, and {{convert|19|ft|m|abbr=on}} wide.<ref name="Times-Apr1961"/><ref name="NRC-2007">{{cite journal |author=Nuclear Regulatory Commission |title=Notice of License Termination for University of Washington Research Reactor (UWAR) |url=https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2007/09/05/E7-17494/notice-of-license-termination-for-university-of-washington-research-reactor-uwar |journal=Federal Register |publisher=Government Printing Office |volume=72 |pages=50991–50992 |access-date=November 29, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161201013751/https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2007/09/05/E7-17494/notice-of-license-termination-for-university-of-washington-research-reactor-uwar |archive-date=December 1, 2016 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> During its 27-year lifespan, the reactor operated for the equivalent of 140 days, running for some days at half power and for as little as 10 minutes.<ref name="Times-1991">{{cite news |last=Henderson |first=Diedtra |date=June 27, 1991 |title=Fears over reactor dismantling—UW's neighbors want to be informed |page=C3 |url=http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/archive/?date=19910627&slug=1291417 |work=The Seattle Times |access-date=November 29, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161201012526/http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/archive/?date=19910627&slug=1291417 |archive-date=December 1, 2016 |df=mdy-all }}</ref>

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 {{convert|69|ft|8|in|abbr=on}} from north to south and {{convert|76|ft|m|abbr=on}} from east to west, with a total of {{convert|7,595|sqft|sqm}} of interior space.<ref name="UWReport-2008"/><ref name="NRHP"/> 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.<ref name="NRHP"/>{{rp|5}}<ref name="HistoryLink"/> The large glass walls enabled public viewing of the reactor room's interior, showcasing the activity inside.<ref name="Times-Saving">{{cite news |last=Lacitis |first=Erik |date=December 13, 2015 |title=UW's nuke-reactor building: cold, ugly — but worth saving? |page=A1 |url=http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/education/uws-nuke-reactor-building-cold-ugly-and-worth-saving/ |work=The Seattle Times |access-date=November 29, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160621191214/http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/education/uws-nuke-reactor-building-cold-ugly-and-worth-saving/ |archive-date=June 21, 2016 |df=mdy-all }}</ref>

The first floor, partly covered by the outdoor [[Engineering:Plaza|plaza]], housed the reactor, laboratory, crystal [[Physics:Spectrometer|spectrometer]], counting room with a [[Engineering:Nuclear densometer|nuclear densometer]], classrooms, restrooms, and offices. The second floor contained the control room, an observatory, and a lecture room overlooking the reactor; it was open to the outdoor plaza on three sides, with large glass windows allowing for public observation of experiments.<ref name="UWReport-2008"/><ref name="NRHP"/> The reactor was placed on the lower side of the building, downhill of the plaza, to allow the ground to absorb accidental [[Physics:Radiation|radiation]] leaks.<ref name="HistoryLink"/> The structure's roof rested on a series of perpendicular beams that also supported a three-[[Short ton|ton]] ({{convert|3|ST|kg|disp=number}} kg) crane used to lift the reactor shield between experiments.<ref name="NRHP"/>

==History==
[[File:U of Washington Nuclear Reactor Building interior 02.jpg|thumb|left|Interior of the decommissioned reactor room, photographed in 2009|alt=A subterranean room containing a circular structure divided into two halves. The structure is visibly weathered and has been hollowed out.]]

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 [[Organization:University of Washington|University of Washington]] began [[Engineering:Nuclear engineering|nuclear engineering]] classes as part of the College of Engineering in 1953 and formed a Department of Nuclear Engineering in 1956, accepting engineers from [[Company:Boeing|Boeing]] and the nearby [[Astronomy:Hanford Site|Hanford Site]] as its first students.<ref name="HistoryLink"/><ref>{{cite news |last=Fussell |first=E.B. |date=December 23, 1956 |title=Atomic Age Sends Engineers Back To Classrooms |page=8 |work=The Seattle Times}}</ref> 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 (equivalent to ${{format price|{{Inflation|US-GDP|100,000|1957|r=-3}}}} in {{Inflation-year|US-GDP}} dollars){{inflation-fn|US-GDP}} for the University of Washington to install a permanent nuclear reactor on the campus, the first of its kind in the United States.<ref name="HistoryLink"/><ref>{{cite news |date=November 26, 1957 |title=Test Set For U.W. Nuclear Reactor |page=3 |work=The Seattle Times}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=October 6, 1957 |title=U. of W. Ranks High in Nuclear Studies |page=8 |work=The Seattle Times}}</ref>

The proposed 10&nbsp;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.<ref>{{cite news |date=April 18, 1959 |title=Nuclear Facility Approved |page=3 |work=The Seattle Times}}</ref> In December, the regents awarded the construction contract to Jentoft & Forbes, paying $308,082 (equivalent to ${{format price|{{Inflation|US-GDP|308,082|1959|r=-3}}}} in {{Inflation-year|US-GDP}} dollars){{inflation-fn|US-GDP}} 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.<ref name="UWReport-2008"/><ref>{{cite news |date=December 19, 1959 |title=U.W. Regents Let Contract For Nuclear-Reactor Building |page=2 |work=The Seattle Times}}</ref>

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.<ref name="Times-Apr1961">{{cite news |date=April 10, 1961 |title=U.W. Nuclear Reactor In Operation |page=7 |work=The Seattle Times}}</ref> It was officially dedicated on June 1, in a ceremony attended by [[Organization:Argonne National Laboratory|Argonne National Laboratory]] director [[Biography:Norman Hilberry|Norman Hilberry]], a physicist who worked on [[Physics:Chicago Pile-1|Chicago Pile-1]], the world's first nuclear reactor to achieve [[Physics:Criticality (status)|criticality]].<ref>{{cite news |date=May 28, 1961 |title=Nuclear Reactor To Be Dedicated |page=20 |work=The Seattle Times}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=June 1, 1961 |title=A. E. C. Official Urges Greater Use of Brains |page=3 |work=The Seattle Times}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite news |date=March 21, 1962 |title=Reactor Tour Planned |page=47 |work=The Seattle Times}}</ref>

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 [[Engineering:Nuclear navy#United States Navy|U.S. Navy's nuclear programs]]).<ref>{{cite news |last=Giske |first=Howard |date=April 26, 1970 |title=U.W.'s Nuclear Reactor—Working to Benefit Society |page=14 |work=The Seattle Times}}</ref> In 1966, the university and local law enforcement agencies proposed converting the reactor into a part-time laboratory for [[Physics:Forensic science|forensic science]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Sterling |first=E.M. |date=April 7, 1966 |title=U.W. Reactor May Become 'Detective' |page=6 |work=The Seattle Times}}</ref> By 1975, the reactor had only used {{convert|10|g}} of its {{convert|3,300|g|abbr=on}} of uranium-235 fuel.<ref>{{cite news |last=William |first=Hill |date=January 16, 1975 |title=A. E. C. security move not significant here |page=F4 |work=The Seattle Times}}</ref>

===1972 plutonium spill===

On June 13, 1972, during an experiment that used a [[Chemistry:Plutonium|plutonium]] sample, three lab workers were exposed to radiation after a capsule holding the sample spilled, requiring a full investigation of the nuclear reactor.<ref>{{cite news |date=June 14, 1972 |title=Three on U.W. staff exposed to radiation |page=G3 |work=The Seattle Times}}</ref> One of the workers, graduate student W. Robert Sloan, was exposed to {{convert|42|mg}} 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,<ref name="Times-Oct2">{{cite news |last=Williams |first=Hill |date=October 2, 1972 |title=Leak in U.W. Reactor traced to vibration |page=14 |work=The Seattle Times}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite news |last=Williams |first=Hill |date=October 1, 1972 |title=Plutonium leak: day of suspense at U.W. plant |page=2 |work=The Seattle Times}}</ref> 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 [[Chemistry:Freon|freon]] solution and disposed of;<ref>{{cite news |last=Williams |first=Hill |date=October 3, 1972 |title=Reactor cleanup required patience |pages=B2–B3 |work=The Seattle Times}}</ref> the
clean-up cost a total of $30,000 in emergency funds (equivalent to ${{Inflation|US-GDP|30,000|1972|r=-3|fmt=c}} in {{Inflation-year|US-GDP}} dollars).{{inflation-fn|US-GDP}}<ref name="Times-Oct2"/>

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 Nuclear Reactor Advisory Committee into its review processes for reactor experiments, after the AEC determined there was inadequate review of the UW experiment. The staff members were praised by the AEC for protecting the public by sealing the materials and evacuating the building for six hours.<ref>{{cite news |last=Williams |first=Hill |date=November 12, 1972 |title=A.E.C. gave straight talk to U.W. over reactor accident |page=A14 |work=The Seattle Times}}</ref>

===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 1983 financial collapse of the Washington Public Power Supply System, a government agency planning to build five large nuclear power plants throughout the state, and the Three Mile Island accident of 1979 both contributed to a decline in interest in the university's nuclear program. Student use of the reactor was replaced by commercial use to produce nuclear isotopes for medical use.<ref name="HistoryLink"/> By 1988, the enrollment in UW's nuclear engineering program had shrunk to 23 students,<ref>{{cite news |last=Moriwaki |first=Lee |date=November 2, 1988 |title=Interest in nuclear engineering slides—enrollment at UW hits low point for '80s |page=G1 |work=The Seattle Times}}</ref> and the program was cancelled entirely in 1992.<ref>{{cite news |date=October 26, 1992 |title=Nuclear engineering is dropped by UW |page=B2 |work=The Seattle Times}}</ref>

The reactor was shut down on June 30, 1988,<ref name="HistoryLink"/><ref name="NRC-2007"/> 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.<ref name="Times-1991"/><ref>{{cite news |date=July 10, 1984 |title=WSU to fight reactor rule changes |page=A11 |work=Spokane Chronicle |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/53851616/wsu-to-fight-reactor-rule-changes/ |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=June 20, 2020}}</ref> The remaining {{convert|4|kg}} of enriched uranium fuel rods were transported to Idaho for processing and disposal.<ref name="UWToday2006">{{cite news |last=Harrill |first=Rob |date=April 6, 2006 |title=Decommissioning of More Hall reactor concludes |url=http://www.washington.edu/news/2006/04/06/decommissioning-of-more-hall-reactor-concludes/ |work=UW Today |publisher=University of Washington |access-date=November 29, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161122114420/http://www.washington.edu/news/2006/04/06/decommissioning-of-more-hall-reactor-concludes/ |archive-date=November 22, 2016 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> The building provided offices and storage space for various UW departments, including the College of Engineering's robotics laboratory.<ref name="Daily07">{{cite news|last=Mari |first=Will |date=May 21, 2007 |title=Step into the UW's former nuclear reactor |work=The Daily |url=http://thedaily.washington.edu/article/2007/5/21/stepIntoTheUwsFormerNuclearReactor |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070919190500/http://thedaily.washington.edu/article/2007/5/21/stepIntoTheUwsFormerNuclearReactor |archive-date=September 19, 2007 |access-date=February 28, 2017 }}</ref> The University of Washington applied to the NRC to dismantle the reactor on August 2, 1994.<ref>{{cite journal |author=Nuclear Regulatory Commission |date=February 7, 2006 |title=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 |url=https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2006/02/07/E6-1625/in-the-matter-of-the-university-of-washington-the-university-of-washington-research-reactor-order |journal=Federal Register |publisher=Government Printing Office |volume=71 |pages=6292–6294 |access-date=November 29, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161025033505/https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2006/02/07/E6-1625/in-the-matter-of-the-university-of-washington-the-university-of-washington-research-reactor-order |archive-date=October 25, 2016 |df=mdy-all }}</ref>

In the wake of the September 11, 2001 attacks, the Nuclear Reactor Building was renamed to the More Hall Annex to deter burglary, after a request from the NRC.<ref name="HistoryLink"/><ref name="Daily07"/> Formal decommissioning of the site, including a $4 million cleanup (equivalent to ${{format price|{{Inflation|US-GDP|4,000,000|2006}}}} in {{Inflation-year|US-GDP}} dollars),{{inflation-fn|US-GDP}} began in April 2006, amid student protests over the contractor hired for the work.<ref>{{cite news |last=Perry |first=Nick |date=April 6, 2006 |title=UW to dismantle nuclear reactor |page=B2 |url=http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/archive/?date=20060406&slug=uwnuke06m |work=The Seattle Times |access-date=November 29, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170301094340/http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/archive/?date=20060406&slug=uwnuke06m |archive-date=March 1, 2017 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> The NRC formally terminated the university's license to operate the reactor in May 2007.<ref name="NRC-2007"/>

===Preservation attempts===

Prior to the removal of the reactor in October 2008,<ref name="HistoryLink"/> the university proposed demolishing the structure and redeveloping the site for other uses.<ref>{{cite news |last=Berger |first=Knute |date=February 29, 2008 |title=An historic hot house |url=http://crosscut.com/2008/02/an-historic-hot-house/ |work=Crosscut.com |access-date=November 29, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161130193159/http://crosscut.com/2008/02/an-historic-hot-house/ |archive-date=November 30, 2016 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite news |last=Perry |first=Nick |date=October 20, 2008 |title=UW nuclear-reactor building is added to historic list |page=B4 |url=http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/uw-nuclear-reactor-building-is-added-to-historic-list/ |work=The Seattle Times |agency=Associated Press |access-date=November 29, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161130192437/http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/uw-nuclear-reactor-building-is-added-to-historic-list/ |archive-date=November 30, 2016 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> Preservationists suggested re-using the building as a museum dedicated to the state's nuclear history and continuing research.<ref>{{cite news |last=Berger |first=Knute |date=April 27, 2008 |title=How about a nuclear museum on the UW campus? |url=http://crosscut.com/2008/04/how-about-nuclear-museum-on-uw-campus/ |work=Crosscut.com |access-date=November 29, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161130195401/http://crosscut.com/2008/04/how-about-nuclear-museum-on-uw-campus/ |archive-date=November 30, 2016 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> The structure was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2009, based on an application submitted by Abby Inpanbutr (née Martin), a UW architecture student, in spring 2008.<ref name="Times-Saving"/><ref>{{cite news |last=Cheek |first=Lawrence |date=April 28, 2008 |title=On Architecture: What Seattle buildings to save |url=http://www.seattlepi.com/ae/article/On-Architecture-What-Seattle-buildings-to-save-1271728.php#photo-683280 |work=Seattle Post-Intelligencer |access-date=November 29, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161130191431/http://www.seattlepi.com/ae/article/On-Architecture-What-Seattle-buildings-to-save-1271728.php#photo-683280 |archive-date=November 30, 2016 |df=mdy-all }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Berger |first=Knute |date=October 4, 2009 |title=Score one for Seattle's historic nuke site |url=http://crosscut.com/2009/10/score-one-for-seattles-historic-nuke-site/ |work=Crosscut.com |access-date=November 29, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161130193617/http://crosscut.com/2009/10/score-one-for-seattles-historic-nuke-site/ |archive-date=November 30, 2016 |df=mdy-all }}</ref>

The university again proposed demolition of the structure in 2015, to clear the space for a new [[Computer science|computer science]] building adjacent to the existing Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science & Engineering.<ref>{{cite news |date=April 30, 2015 |title=UW planning $110M Allen Center expansion |url=https://www.djc.com/news/ae/12077171.html |work=Seattle Daily Journal of Commerce |access-date=November 29, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170301094315/https://www.djc.com/news/ae/12077171.html |archive-date=March 1, 2017 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite news |last=Bhatt |first=Sanjay |date=May 9, 2015 |title=UW's historic nuclear plant is 'endangered' |page=D1 |url=http://www.seattletimes.com/business/local-business/uw-looking-at-options-for-n-reactor-building/ |work=The Seattle Times |access-date=November 29, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170301092850/http://www.seattletimes.com/business/local-business/uw-looking-at-options-for-n-reactor-building/ |archive-date=March 1, 2017 |df=mdy-all }}</ref>

The university released a draft supplemental [[Earth:Environmental impact statement|environmental impact statement]] (SEIS) for the project in October 2015, recommending the demolition of the More Hall Annex in their preferred alternative.<ref>{{cite news |date=October 7, 2015 |title=Public notice: Availability of a draft supplemental environmental impact statement (DEIS) — CSE II Project |url=http://www.washington.edu/news/2015/10/07/public-notice-availability-of-a-draft-supplemental-environmental-impact-statement-deis-cse-ii-project/ |work=UW Today |publisher=University of Washington |access-date=November 29, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161119060412/http://www.washington.edu/news/2015/10/07/public-notice-availability-of-a-draft-supplemental-environmental-impact-statement-deis-cse-ii-project/ |archive-date=November 19, 2016 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> In response to the SEIS, building conservation group [[Organization:Docomomo International|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.<ref>{{cite news |last=Berger |first=Knute |date=February 14, 2016 |title=UW launches attack on city's historic preservation powers |url=http://crosscut.com/2016/02/uw-wants-to-nuke-citys-landmarking-powers-along-with-reactor-building/ |work=Crosscut.com |access-date=November 29, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161001155133/http://crosscut.com/2016/02/uw-wants-to-nuke-citys-landmarking-powers-along-with-reactor-building/ |archive-date=October 1, 2016 |df=mdy-all }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Resse |first=Madelyn |date=January 12, 2016 |title=Former Nuclear Reactor Building might not get saved |url=http://www.dailyuw.com/news/article_e0cedcd6-b8e8-11e5-bc68-c38bf9b88bde.html |work=The Daily |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20171201080602/http://www.dailyuw.com/news/article_e0cedcd6-b8e8-11e5-bc68-c38bf9b88bde.html |archive-date=December 1, 2017 |access-date=November 29, 2016 |df=mdy-all }}</ref>

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.<ref>{{cite news |last=Long |first=Katherine |date=April 16, 2016 |title=UW can disregard Seattle's landmark law, judge rules |page=B1 |url=http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/education/uw-doesnt-have-to-follow-citys-landmark-preservation-law-judge-rules/ |work=The Seattle Times |access-date=November 29, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160923074831/http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/education/uw-doesnt-have-to-follow-citys-landmark-preservation-law-judge-rules/ |archive-date=September 23, 2016 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> While the city and preservationists appealed the decision, they allowed the demolition of the More Hall Annex to proceed by not seeking a [[Social:Stay of proceedings|stay]] that would leave them responsible for damages compensation.<ref>{{cite news |last=Long |first=Katherine |date=May 12, 2016 |title=City of Seattle appeals UW More Hall Annex demolition decision |page=B2 |url=http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/education/city-of-seattle-appeals-uw-more-hall-annex-demolition-decision/ |work=The Seattle Times |access-date=November 29, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170301092703/http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/education/city-of-seattle-appeals-uw-more-hall-annex-demolition-decision/ |archive-date=March 1, 2017 |df=mdy-all }}</ref><ref name="Crosscut-June2016">{{cite news |last=Berger |first=Knute |date=July 17, 2016 |title=Preservationists throw in the towel on historic nuclear building |url=http://crosscut.com/2016/06/preservationists-throw-in-the-towel-on-historic-nuclear-building/ |work=Crosscut.com |access-date=November 29, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170301092902/http://crosscut.com/2016/06/preservationists-throw-in-the-towel-on-historic-nuclear-building/ |archive-date=March 1, 2017 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> The decision was appealed to the Washington Supreme Court,<ref>{{cite news |last=Berger |first=Knute |date=June 26, 2017 |title=Fate of UW campus in hands of state Supreme Court |url=http://crosscut.com/2017/06/university-of-washington-nuclear-reactor-supreme-court/ |work=Crosscut.com |access-date=June 26, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170627075905/http://crosscut.com/2017/06/university-of-washington-nuclear-reactor-supreme-court/ |archive-date=June 27, 2017 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> which ruled in the city's favor and rejected the university's claimed exemption from the city landmarks preservation ordinance.<ref>{{cite news |date=July 20, 2017 |title=UW must follow city's landmarks law, Washington state Supreme Court rules |url=http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/uw-must-follow-citys-landmarks-law-washington-state-supreme-court-rules/ |work=The Seattle Times |access-date=July 20, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170720193050/http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/uw-must-follow-citys-landmarks-law-washington-state-supreme-court-rules/ |archive-date=July 20, 2017 |df=mdy-all }}</ref>

===Demolition===
[[File:More Hall Annex demolition, July 2016.jpg|thumb|right|Demolition work on the site of More Hall Annex in late July 2016|alt=Excavating equipment in a concrete parking lot, behind a fenced off courtyard]]

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.<ref>{{cite news |last=Long |first=Katherine |date=February 11, 2016 |title=UW regents vote to demolish old reactor building listed as historic |page=B1 |url=http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/education/uw-regents-vote-to-demolish-old-reactor-building-listed-as-historic/ |work=The Seattle Times |access-date=February 11, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160213092853/http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/education/uw-regents-vote-to-demolish-old-reactor-building-listed-as-historic/ |archive-date=February 13, 2016 |df=mdy-all }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=February 11, 2016 |title=Computer Science & Engineering 2: Approve Project Site, Preferred Development Alternative and Mitigation |url=https://www.washington.edu/regents/files/2016/02/2016-02-F-3.pdf |publisher=University of Washington |access-date=November 29, 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160221085724/https://www.washington.edu/regents/files/2016/02/2016-02-F-3.pdf |archive-date=February 21, 2016 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> An attempt to incorporate elements of the nuclear reactor into the new computer science building was rejected because of the impact of potential [[Earth:Seismic retrofit|seismic retrofit]]s that would be required to meet modern standards. The computer science department instead plans to make a [[Virtual tour|virtual tour]] of the building available online in a digital archive.<ref>{{cite news |last=Reese |first=Madelyn |date=February 11, 2016 |title=Board of regents discusses animal testing, raises orientation fee |url=http://www.dailyuw.com/news/article_b7c37570-d14a-11e5-9f04-bf55ef18098e.html |work=The Daily |access-date=November 29, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181214081655/http://www.dailyuw.com/news/article_b7c37570-d14a-11e5-9f04-bf55ef18098e.html |archive-date=December 14, 2018 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}</ref>

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.<ref>{{cite news |last=Berger |first=Knute |date=May 11, 2016 |title=While city appeals, UW plans to knock down historic building |url=http://crosscut.com/2016/05/while-city-appeals-uw-plans-to-knock-down-historic-building/ |work=Crosscut.com |access-date=November 29, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170315155551/http://crosscut.com/2016/05/while-city-appeals-uw-plans-to-knock-down-historic-building/ |archive-date=March 15, 2017 |df=mdy-all }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Kloub |first=Mohammed |date=June 3, 2016 |title=UW to demolish More Hall Annex, remove 44 trees |url=http://www.dailyuw.com/news/article_fc21e306-2941-11e6-9aef-53f4fa93ad84.html |work=The Daily |access-date=November 29, 2016}}</ref> Demolition of the More Hall Annex began on July 19,<ref>{{cite news |last=Berger |first=Knute |date=July 21, 2016 |title=UW's 'Nuke Building' bites the dust |url=http://crosscut.com/2016/07/uws-nuke-building-bites-the-dust/ |work=Crosscut.com |access-date=November 29, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160722121406/http://crosscut.com/2016/07/uws-nuke-building-bites-the-dust/ |archive-date=July 22, 2016 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> and preservationists held a mock funeral for the building with Daniel Streissguth, one of the project's original architects.<ref>{{cite news |last=Berger |first=Knute |date=August 11, 2016 |title=Funeral for a piece of Seattle's atomic past |url=http://crosscut.com/2016/08/funeral-seattle-atomic-history-preservation/ |work=Crosscut.com |access-date=November 29, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170314074236/http://crosscut.com/2016/08/funeral-seattle-atomic-history-preservation/ |archive-date=March 14, 2017 |df=mdy-all }}</ref>

===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.<ref>{{cite news |last=Long |first=Katherine |date=October 12, 2017 |title=New UW computer science and engineering building named for Bill and Melinda Gates |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/education/new-uw-computer-science-and-engineering-building-named-for-bill-and-melinda-gates/ |work=The Seattle Times |access-date=December 14, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cs.washington.edu/supportcse/cse2 |title=Support CSE2 – A second building for UW Computer Science & Engineering |publisher=Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science & Engineering |access-date=August 14, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170702234126/http://www.cs.washington.edu/supportcse/cse2 |archive-date=July 2, 2017 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> The {{convert|130,000|sqft|sqm|adj=mid}} building includes a 250-person lecture hall, classrooms, and lab spaces for robotics and other technologies.<ref>{{cite news |last=Dasgupta |first=Hanna |date=January 18, 2017 |title=CSE program to double in size by 2019 |url=http://www.dailyuw.com/news/article_7094ae94-dd2e-11e6-bbaf-abac6eb2c8c3.html |work=The Daily |access-date=August 14, 2017}}</ref> In January 2017, the Board of Regents approved its construction,<ref>{{cite news |last=Soper |first=Taylor |date=January 12, 2017 |title=University of Washington approves funding plan for new computer science building |url=https://www.geekwire.com/2017/university-washington-set-approve-funding-plan-new-computer-science-building/ |work=GeekWire |access-date=August 14, 2017}}</ref> which began later in the year.<ref>{{cite news |last=Stiles |first=Marc |date=June 22, 2017 |title=Ahead of the crane: Mortenson Construction augments reality on UW project |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/news/2017/06/22/mortenson-construction-virtual-reality-design.html |work=Puget Sound Business Journal |access-date=August 14, 2017}}</ref> The building was [[Engineering:Topping out|topped out]] in December 2017, roughly marking the halfway point in construction.<ref>{{cite news |last=Langston |first=Jennifer |date=December 13, 2017 |title=University of Washington celebrates fundraising and construction milestones for second computer science building |url=http://www.washington.edu/news/2017/12/13/university-of-washington-celebrates-fundraising-and-construction-milestones-for-second-computer-science-building/ |publisher=University of Washington |access-date=December 14, 2017}}</ref> The Bill & Melinda Gates Center was opened to students on February 28, 2019.<ref>{{cite news |last=Holtz |first=Jackson |date=February 28, 2019 |title=Bill & Melinda Gates Center opens a new era of computer science education and innovation at the University of Washington |url=https://www.washington.edu/news/2019/02/28/gates-center-open/ |publisher=University of Washington |access-date=February 28, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Goerz |first=Thelonious |date=February 25, 2019 |title=What it really looks like to be a computer science hopeful |url=http://www.dailyuw.com/science/article_d4b8b2da-38b7-11e9-a4c6-efbc9d4fd730.html |work=The Daily |access-date=February 28, 2019}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.docomomo-wewa.org/endangered_detail.php?id=12 Building profile] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161226060500/http://www.docomomo-wewa.org/endangered_detail.php?id=12 |date=December 26, 2016 }} at Docomomo WEWA
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v8MkWb65JsM Historic footage of reactor, 1963] from UW Libraries
* [http://www.savethereactor.org/ Save the Reactor], a historic preservation campaign for the building
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Af9Q_Mzjyfg YouTube video tour] from PreserveWA

[[Category:Nuclear research reactors]]

{{Sourceattribution|More Hall Annex}}