Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-08-26
By Steed Evons

The safest spot in Washington
in case of an A-bomb attack is
a building nearing completion on
the grounds of Walter Reed
Army Hospital.
Called the Armed Forces In
stitute of Pathology, the eight
story building was deliberately
designed to Withstand neuclear
attack. It is not a pretty thing
to look at.
More than anything else, it
resembles a blockhouse. Gray,
grim and all but windowless. the
building, nevertheless. is an ar
chitectural triumph.
Five stories are above ground
level, three are below. The low
est point of the building is more
than so feet below the surface,
while the roof is 81 feet above
the ground. On the north and
south ends are dependable"
wings with windows. These wings,
containing offices and non-es-
Sential areas, were not designed
to survive the racking convul-
sions Of AN A-bomb explosion.
Heavy Isolation Doors.
The main part of the building,
where the laboratories and other
facilities are located, can be
closed off from the outside with
ponderous metal doors so heavy
they roll on tracks. The walls of
the main structure are from IL
to Is inches thick and super
braced with steel beams. The
whole building was constructed
Of concrete.
The south wall particularly
defies destruction. Thicker by
several inches than any of the
other walls, it was designed to
to stand a positive pressure of
1880 tons. Architects theo-
rized the south wall would face
blast rings roaring northwards
from downtown Washington.
Inside this massive mausoleum
are the most advanced facilities
yet conceived for pathology re-
search. Laboratories line nearly
every corridor, and equipment Is
now being installed. Engineers
said the scientists can move in
around the first Of the year.
The building originally was tc
cost SIS million. But since con-
struction started two years ago
changes and additions have
added another million.
Extensive Tv Studio.
On the ground floor is a tele-
vision studio that rivals any ir
the TV industry. It will be usec
mostly to teach new therapie:
and operating techniques. There
are, two auditoriums in the
building, in which classes car
watch color television transmits
sion of whatever is going on II
the studio.
Another use of Tv lis sure tt
figure in lifesaving. the primar,
aim of the institute. Say there
is a patient on an operating ia
BILE in the hospital nearby. It il
, an exploratory operation, seek
ing a humorous condition in TIT
patients abdomen.
Surgeons find the tumor AT
) fecting vital body functions ant
] are faced with the decision: L
the tumor malignant or benign
Quickly the chief surgeon re-
moves a tiny portion of the at.
fected tissue and places 1t in Z
pneumatic-tube carrier liks
those once used to make change
in department stores.
. In seconds, the carrier reache.
/ the institute, where pathologists
have been watching the opera
ton on a closed Tv circuit. A
swift analysis, aided by two-way
communication between the op-
Grating surgeon and pathologist
! and decision is made quickly
!. The speed with which this can
be done can mean hours, weeks
and even months saved In pos
Sible further treatment.
i Doctor Specifications.
i Such facilities are the result
of close cooperation between
the architects and doctors. Doc
tors and research experts were
asked before o line was drawn