Neely Nuclear Research Center

Neely Nuclear Research Center
Former names Neely Research Reactor
Georgia Tech Research Reactor
General information
Location Atlanta, Georgia, USA
Address 900 Atlantic Drive NW
Coordinates 33°46′47″N 84°23′53″W / 33.779609°N 84.39815°W / 33.779609; -84.39815Coordinates: 33°46′47″N 84°23′53″W / 33.779609°N 84.39815°W / 33.779609; -84.39815
Current tenants

Nuclear and Radiological Engineering Program

Georgia Tech Research Institute
Completed 1963
Demolished 2000
Owner Georgia Institute of Technology
Technical details
Floor count 1

The Frank H. Neely Nuclear Research Center, also known as the Neely Research Reactor and the Georgia Tech Research Reactor was a nuclear engineering research center on the Georgia Institute of Technology campus, which had a live, 5 kilowatt heavy-water-cooled research reactor from 1961 until 1996. It was decommissioned in November 1999.[1] The building that housed the reactor was demolished to make way for the Marcus Nanotechnology Research Center.

The center is named for Frank H. Neely, a Georgia Tech graduate and businessman that organized the first Georgia Nuclear Advisory Commission, an essential step in the creation of the reactor and associated facilities.[2]

History

The center and associated reactor was built after campus president Blake R. Van Leer appointed a Nuclear Science Committee, which included Georgia Tech Research Institute director James E. Boyd.[3][4]

The committee recommended the creation of a Radioisotopes Laboratory Facility and a large research reactor. The laboratory was built and dedicated on January 7, 1959, and could receive, store, and process radioactive materials.[3] The research reactor would be completed in 1963.

The reactor was shut down in 1988 due to safety concerns,[5] and was defueled due to safety concerns related to the nearby 1996 Summer Olympics events.[3]

The reactor building was torn down after the decommissioning, with the remainder removed as of 2015.

The former site of the Neely Nuclear Research Center

References

  1. ↑ "Research Reactor Decommissioning" (PDF). CH2M HILL. Retrieved 2010-03-29.
  2. ↑ "Frank H. Neely Papers". Georgia Tech Library. Retrieved 2010-03-29.
  3. 1 2 3 "James E. Boyd" (PDF). Georgia Institute of Technology. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2006-09-12. Retrieved 2010-03-25.
  4. ↑ "History Makers". Georgia Tech Research Institute. Retrieved 2010-03-25.
  5. ↑ "Georgia Tech Closes Its Reactor, Citing Continued Safety Concerns". The New York Times. 1988-02-16. Retrieved 2010-03-29.
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