Bell Labs Holmdel Complex

The Bell Labs Holmdel Complex functioned for forty-four years as a research laboratory in basic physics research and was the home of several Nobel Prize winners.[3] The centerpiece of the 472-acre (1.91 km2) campus is an Eero Saarinen designed structure that served as the home to over 6,000 researchers.[4] This modernist building, dubbed "The Biggest Mirror Ever" by Architectural Forum, due to its mirror box exterior, was the site of several Nobel Prize inventions.[1][7]

History
Main building

In 1957 the Bell Telephone Company began to plan a research laboratory in Holmdel Township, New Jersey[6] Constructed between 1959 and 1962, this complex was one of the final projects of Finnish-American architect Eero Saarinen before his death in 1961.[5] Used as a research complex, it served the needs of the Bell Laboratories division of Bell Telephone, later known as AT&T, Lucent, and Alcatel-Lucent.[6] The building's distinctive features, including its mirror-like appearance, led to recognition as the Laboratory of the Year by R&D in 1967.[8]

The building was subsequently expanded in 1966 and 1982 to its final size of two million square feet of office space[9] Despite these expansions, the original curtain wall design remained intact, as did the unique layout of the site, which included a large elliptical master plan and country-road like approach. Over its active life-span, the facility and its layout was studied in universities as a model of modernist architecture.[10] Internally, the building is divided into four pavilions of labs and offices, each around an atrium. The internal pavilions are linked via sky-bridges and perimeter walkway.[6]

Also of note is the water tower on the complex, which was designed to look like the then-new transistor and is still in usable condition more than 40 years after its construction.[11]

Post Alcatel-Lucent

In 2006, Alcatel-Lucent sold the facility to Preferred Real Estate Investments in the process of restructuring the company's research efforts.[4] Despite initial plans to maintain the original buildings and keep the complex as a corporate office park, economic developments later resulted in Preferred seeking to re-zoning as residential property.[9][12][13][14] As a result, the complex was added to The Cultural Landscape Foundation's list of 10 Most Endangered Historic Sites in New Jersey in May 2007.[1] Additionally action led to the creation of a citizen's group, Preserving Holmdel, by former Bell employees, to lobby for keeping the complex as it was when in use as a laboratory.[15] Working with the community, ideas for changes such as a university center or recreational complex, in portions of the former facility are under consideration.[16]

References

^ a b c Emrich, Ron (2008-08). "Bell Laboratories, Holmdel, New Jersey". The Cultural Landscape Foundation. Retrieved 2008-09-27.
^ "Big Research Unit Started". NYT. 1959-08-27. Retrieved 2008-09-27.
^ a b Ganapati, Priya (2008-08-28). "Once Mighty Bell Labs Leaves Behind Transistor, Laser, 6 Nobels". Wired. CondéNet. Retrieved 2008-09-27.
^ a b c Martin, Antoinette (2006-06-14). "Pastoral Site of Historic Inventions Faces the End". NYT. Retrieved 2008-09-27.
^ a b "EERO SAARINEN, 51, ARCHITECT, IS DEAD; Versatile Designer Created Terminal for T.W.A. Here and Embassies for U.S. DISCIPLE OF HIS FATHER Received Many Awards-Worked With Mielziner on Lincoln Center Theatre". NYT. 1961-09-02. Retrieved 2008-09-27.
^ a b c d Dunlap, David (2008-03-02). "The Office as Architectural Touchstone". NYT. Retrieved 2008-09-27.
^ Rensberger, Boyce (1972-02-20). "Where Science Grows Miracles". NYT. Retrieved 2008-09-27.
^ Higginbotham, Julie (1998-05-01). "Bell Laboratories Holmdel Complex. (1967 Laboratory of the Year)". R&D. HighBeam Research. Retrieved 2008-09-27.
^ a b Thompson, Sametta (2008-09-15). "Bell Labs site's future". APP.com. Retrieved 2008-09-27.[dead link]
^ Shearn, Tim (2008-08-03). "Abandoned Bell Labs could make history again". NJ.com. The Star-Ledger. Retrieved 2008-09-27.
^ "World's Largest Transistor". RoadsideAmerica.com. 2008-04. Retrieved 2008-09-27.
^ Caiazza, Tom (2006-09-06). "Bell Labs portion will be preserved in Holmdel". The Independent. Retrieved 2008-09-27.
^ "Former Bells Labs Site". Preferred Unlimited. 2007. Retrieved 2008-09-27.[dead link]
^ Block, Ryan (2006-09-01). "Holmdel Bell Labs facility update: it stays!". Engadget. Retrieved 2008-09-27.
^ Beaumont, Leland (2007). "Preserving Holmdel: the future of the Bell Labs facility in Holmdel". PreservingHolmdel. Retrieved 2008-09-27.
^ Martin, Antoinette (2008-05-04). "Ideas for Bell Labs’ Future". NYT. Retrieved 2008-09-27.