Los Alamos National Laboratory
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Aerial view
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| Established | 1943 |
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| Budget | $2.2 billion |
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Field of research
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| Director | Charles F. McMillan |
| Staff | 10,199 |
| Students | 953 |
| Location |
Los Alamos, New Mexico, United States 35°52′32″N 106°19′27″W / 35.87556°N 106.32417°WCoordinates: 35°52′32″N 106°19′27″W / 35.87556°N 106.32417°W |
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Operating agency
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Los Alamos National Security LLC |
| Website | lanl |
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Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory
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| Location | Central Ave., Los Alamos, New Mexico |
| Coordinates | 35°52′54″N 106°17′54″W / 35.88167°N 106.29833°W |
| Area | 13 acres (5.3 ha) |
| Built | 1943 |
| Architectural style | Bungalow/Craftsman, Modern Movement, Ranch |
| NRHP Reference # | 66000893 |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | October 15, 1966 |
| Designated NHLD | December 21, 1965 |
Los Alamos National Laboratory (or LANL; previously known at various times as Project Y, Los Alamos Laboratory, and Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory) is one of two laboratories in the United States in which classified work towards the design of nuclear weapons has been undertaken (the other being Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory). LANL is a United States Department of Energy national laboratory, managed and operated by Los Alamos National Security (LANS), located in Los Alamos, New Mexico. The laboratory is one of the largest science and technology institutions in the world. It conducts multidisciplinary research in fields such as national security, space exploration, renewable energy,medicine, nanotechnology, and supercomputing.
The laboratory was founded during World War II as a secret, centralized facility to coordinate the scientific research of the Manhattan Project, the Allied project to develop the first nuclear weapons. In September 1942, the difficulties encountered in conducting preliminary studies on nuclear weapons at universities scattered across the country indicated the need for a laboratory dedicated solely to that purpose.
General Leslie Groves wanted a central laboratory at an isolated location for safety, and to keep the scientists away from the populace. It should be at least 200 miles from international boundaries and west of the Mississippi. Major John Dudley suggested Oak City, Utah or Jemez Springs, New Mexico but both were rejected. Manhattan Project scientific director J. Robert Oppenheimer had spent much time in his youth in the New Mexico area, and suggested the Los Alamos Ranch School on the mesa. Dudley had rejected the school as not meeting Groves’ criteria, but as soon as Groves saw it he said in effect This is the place. Oppenheimer became the laboratory's first director.
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Wikipedia