The Nuclear Reactor Project at North Carolina State College has had two separate parts: (1) Construction of the Nuclear Reactor, and (2) Construction of a Reactor Building in which the reactor and its associated laboratories are to be housed.

At the outset, it was proposed that the Nuclear Reactor be constructed (at an estimated cost of $150,000) in one of the buildings already existing on the campus. A considerable portion of the design of the Reactor was completed with this in mind. Later, through a generous gift of $200,000 from the Burlington Mills Foundation, augmented by additional funds from the College, a $380,000 laboratory building to house the Reactor was assured for the project. Availability of this specially designed building, contain- ing associated laboratories and auxiliarly equipment, will increase tremendously the value and usefulness of the project.

Thus chronologically, plans for the Reactor itself were developed well in advance of those for the Reactor Building. It might be mentioned also, that considerable delay was encountered in crystallizing the architectural

In view of this situation, request was made, and permission was granted, for construction of the Reactor to get under way even before final details of the building plans had been drawn. On May 12, 1951, therefore, excavation of the Reactor (and Building) site was started, and in June, 1951 the Southeastern Construction Company began construction of the concrete Reactor foundations and the floor for the Reactor Room. When this work was completed, the same company was requested to erect the concrete shielding of the Reactor Assembly. Working at a rather slow pace, the shielding was completed in December, 1951.

The first attached photograph shows the Reactor shielding structure (essentially completed). This photograph was made in November, 1951.

The Wrenn-Wilson Construction Company of Durham are the general con- tractors for the Reactor Building. Work was started in January, 1952, and was scheduled for completion in November, 1952.

It is significant to note that not a single delay in construction has been encountered on this project because of material shortages or delayed deliveries. High priorities, and even government directives, have been a vailable at any time they have been needed to secure delivery; however, there has been a shortage of labor, and the construction program appears to be a month at least behind schedule.

The second attached photograph shows the Reactor Building in its present stage of construction. One section of the concrete wall of the octagonally-shaped

Since completion of the Reactor Shield, efforts on the Reactor itself have gone toward collecting and testing components which will comprise the working assembly. The actual installation and final testing cannot be ac- complished until the building is finished. After the building is finished, from three to six months will be required to bring the Reactor into full operation.

As mentioned above, completion of the Reactor Building was scheduled for November, 1952. It is to be hoped that actual completion will be achieved by this date or shortly thereafter.