Department of Nuclear Engineering
1940s
During World War II, State College formed a partnership with the U.S. Navy to train naval officers in diesel engineering. The Diesel Building was constructed to house this project. It was designed by Ross Edward Shumaker and became part of Broughton Hall in 1951.
Diesel School, North Carolina State College, May 18, 1944.The Bureau of Mines Building was originally a research station for studying mineral industries. It was later the home of the first nuclear reactor on campus, before becoming the home of the physics department.
Bureau of Mines, side view1950s
Harold Lampe, dean of the School of Engineering, approved the building of a nuclear reactor on campus and the establishment of a nuclear engineering program, which were both firsts in the nation.
Dean J. Harold Lampe at deskBurlington Engineering Labs was built as a center for NC State's research reactor. It was named for Burlington Industries, which was a North Carolina-based textile company.
Burlington Engineering LabsThe R-1 reactor was the first non-government-run nuclear reactor in the world and the first designed, built, and operated by an academic institution. Design and construction began in 1950. It was the first of four reactors operated at NC State. More information on the nuclear reactor program can be found on the departmental website.
Burlington reactor, 1950sHervasio Carvalho of Brazil, a graduate student in the School of Engineering at NC State, was the first person in the world to complete a PhD in nuclear engineering.
The Burlington Nuclear Laboratories building was dedicated. Located within the building was the first non-government-run nuclear reactor.
Burlington Nuclear Laboratories, the focus of nuclear activities on the North Carolina State College campusThree South Korean graduate students enrolled: Wan Yong Chen (nuclear engineering), Jong Soon Kim (psychology), and Jong Chul Park (chemical engineering).
The 1956 AgromeckDr. William Barclay instructed a class as part of the Atoms for Peace program.
Nuclear Technology short course Atoms for Peace Program, Dr. William Barclay instructing class, 1956 July.1960s
More information on the history of the nuclear engineering program can be found on the departmental website.
Sixty gallons of anti-freeze were put in the cooling tower for the reactor in Burlington Laboratory. It was added to keep the 250 gallons of water in the tower from freezing during the winter.
Burlington Engineering Labs interior view1970s
Samiha Mourad became the first woman to receive a PhD in nuclear engineering.
