Nuclear Reactor Building, Seattle, Washington
historic place
In Seattle, Washington, on the University of Washington campus, stood the Nuclear Reactor Building, later known as More Hall Annex. Erected in 1961, this historic place in King County housed a functional nuclear research reactor. Designed in the Brutalist architectural style by a team of UW faculty, the building was unique. It featured large glass walls that allowed the public to observe the reactor inside, a deliberate effort to showcase nuclear energy's perceived safety and potential. The reactor began operating in April 1961 and was officially dedicated in June of that year. It served for student training and experimentation, initially at 10 kilowatts, later upgraded to 100 kilowatts. The reactor was shut down in 1988 and officially decommissioned by 2007. In 2009, the Nuclear Reactor Building was added to the National Register of Historic Places. Despite its historic designation and preservation efforts, the building was demolished in July 2016. This site is historically significant as a rare example of a publicly visible university nuclear research facility and for its distinctive Brutalist architecture.