It’s the end of an era for Berkeley Lab. Demolition of Building 54 – which served as the Lab’s cafeteria, among other things, for more than 70 years – began on Aug. 23. While it will take several weeks to remove all traces, the iconic main story was torn down by the end of the day.
This major milestone signals the end of an era for the Lab. Building 54, Perseverance Hall, and the patio area in front of the building served as the hub for Lab activity since it opened in 1950. Below is a selection of images from the Lab archives showing the many festivals, retirement parties, poster sessions, open houses, and great conversations hosted in Building 54 over the years, as well as renderings of what the future holds for the site.
The demolition of Building 54 also marks a huge step forward in the Seismic Safety and Modernization new facility project. The new facility will be a thoughtful, flexible replacement facility to meet the Lab’s future needs. It will serve as a new front door for the Laboratory, improving the day-to-day experience of our Lab community, and our visitors.