Story (09-22-2004)

Historic Y-12 site demolished

By Paul Parson, Oak Ridger Staff — Glass shattered. Wood crumbled. And, dust rose from the debris as a large, claw-like machine demolished half of a historic building Tuesday morning at Oak Ridge's nuclear weapons plant. The other half of the 9704-2 building came crashing down Monday afternoon as part of the Y-12 National Security Complex's modernization effort.

Scott Hood, manager of Y-12's Infrastructure Reduction program, said several artifacts from the H-shaped, former administration building were salvaged for historic preservation purposes. For one thing, he said some handrails and brass doorknobs from 9704-2 will be incorporated into the new administration building.

The H-shaped structures - which are becoming extinct - were constructed by the U.S. Army in the 1943-to-1944 timeframe for use as dormitories or offices. Building 9704-2's role as Y-12's administration building began in 1954, with the appointment of John P. Murray as plant superintendent.

At about 43,650 square feet, the 9704-2 building is one of the largest structures to be demolished as part of Y-12's modernization effort. To date, BWXT Y-12 has demolished or removed 195 structures totaling more than 650,000 square feet.

The area where 9704-2 used to stand will be converted into a parking lot, and the adjacent hillside is the proposed location for a new 450,000-square-foot facility that will house administrative offices as well as a cafeteria and medical center - among other things.

BWXT Y-12 manages the weapons plant for the National Nuclear Security Administration - the quasi-independent agency within the Department of Energy that oversees the United States' nuclear weapons complex.

---

Source: The Oak Ridger (September 22, 2004).