Lindheimer Astrophysical Research Center was an astronomical observatory used for teaching and research, located on the Evanston, Illinois campus of

Northwestern University Northwestern University is a private research university in Evanston, Illinois. Founded in 1851, Northwestern is the oldest chartered university in Illinois and is ranked among the most prestigious academic institutions in the world. Charte ...

. The structure was built in 1966 and was demolished in 1995.

History

Lindheimer_Observatory_Northwestern_Univ_40

The Center was constructed in 1966 on the Lake Michigan shore in the northeast corner of the recently completed Northwestern University Lakefill and its twin domes and distinctive crisscrossed supporting braces instantly made it a campus landmark. That year, the Chicago Chapter of the

American Institute of Architects The American Institute of Architects (AIA) is a professional organization for architects in the United States. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., the AIA offers education, government advocacy, community redevelopment, and public outreach to su ...

designated the structure as outstanding in its class. The observatory building which housed the Center originally cost approximately one million dollars. It was funded by a gift from the estate of prominent Chicago businessman and sporting executive Benjamin F. Lindheimer along with a grant from the

National Science Foundation The National Science Foundation (NSF) is an independent agency of the United States government that supports fundamental research and education in all the non-medical fields of science and engineering. Its medical counterpart is the National ...

. The telescopes were funded mainly by grants from the A. Montgomery Ward Foundation, the Hans D. Isenberg Foundation, and the National Science Foundation. The facility's domes contained two large telescopes manufactured by premium instrument maker

Boller and Chivens Boller and Chivens was an American manufacturer of high-quality telescopes and spectrographs headquartered in South Pasadena, California. History Founded about 1946 by Harry Berthold Boller (1915-1997) and Clyde Cuthbertson Chivens (1915-2008). ...

. Beneath the smaller dome was a 16-inch Cassegrain reflector, intended mainly for student use. Beneath the larger dome was a 40-inch Cassegrain equipped with a rapid-scanning

optical spectrometer An optical spectrometer (spectrophotometer, spectrograph or spectroscope) is an instrument used to measure properties of light over a specific portion of the electromagnetic spectrum, typically used in spectroscopic analysis to identify mate ...

, intended especially for astronomical research. By the 1990s, the Center's usefulness had diminished, in part because of the poor "seeing" conditions of the

Chicago area The Chicago metropolitan area, also colloquially referred to as Chicagoland, is a metropolitan area in the Midwestern United States. Encompassing 10,286 sq mi (28,120 km2), the metropolitan area includes the city of Chicago, its suburbs and hi ...

, where

light pollution Light pollution is the presence of unwanted, inappropriate, or excessive use of artificial Visible spectrum, lighting. In a descriptive sense, the term ''light pollution'' refers to the effects of any poorly implemented lighting, during the day ...

and

atmospheric turbulence An atmosphere () is a layer of gas or layers of gases that envelop a planet, and is held in place by the gravity of the planetary body. A planet retains an atmosphere when the gravity is great and the temperature of the atmosphere is low. A ...

are persistent problems, and in part because of the need for expensive remediation of the structure due to the presence of asbestos

insulation Insulation may refer to: Thermal * Thermal insulation, use of materials to reduce rates of heat transfer ** List of insulation materials ** Building insulation, thermal insulation added to buildings for comfort and energy efficiency *** Insulated ...

and

lead-based paint Lead paint or lead-based paint is paint containing lead. As pigment, lead(II) chromate (, "chrome yellow"), lead(II,IV) oxide, (, "red lead"), and lead(II) carbonate (, "white lead") are the most common forms.. Lead is added to paint to acceler ...

. Accordingly, the University decided, despite expressions of public support for the well-known landmark, that the cost-effective course of action was to tear down the Center. The telescopes were donated to Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff, Arizona and the demolition proceeded in mid-September, 1995. As a testimonial to the integrity of the original design, the explosive detonations used for the first demolition attempt resulted in the whole structure remaining intact and simply listing to one side, still held firmly together by its network of external supporting braces. Subsequently, the braces were cut away using large industrial cutting torches. Today the site is green space adjoined by a parking lot. TechInstitute-PostLakefill.jpg, Lindheimer Center (top) in 1977 Lindheimer_Observatory_Northwestern_Univ_24_sm.jpg, Looking north along the Lakefill seawall Lindheimer_Observatory_Northwestern_Univ_30.jpg, At night in 1974

References

{{Portal bar, Illinois, Astronomy, Stars, Spaceflight, Outer space, Solar System, Education, Science Infrastructure completed in 1966 Astronomical observatories in Illinois Northwestern University campus 1966 establishments in Illinois Defunct astronomical observatories

History

See also

References