Ever wonder what secrets lie behind those unassuming doors at 38 Oxford Street? For those unfamiliar with Research Computing’s offices, they are located in a low profile, semi-circular building. It is behind the glass behemoth that is 52 Oxford Street. If you weren’t looking for it, you would probably never notice 38 Oxford Street. But if you did make your way to our building and went in through the front entrance you’d probably be struck by its strange architecture and layout.
38 Oxford Street isn’t just another office building. It’s a portal to a fascinating past, a place where cutting-edge science meets Cold War history. Let me tell you its story.
The entrance doors don’t lead to a common area or lobby. Instead a ramp leads you through a long cinderblock hallway that seems more industrial than industrial-chic. At this point most people wonder if they are in the right place. For those that persevere and make it to the end of the ramp, they are greeted with another set of doors. They open to two options. There are stairs to the right that lead up and maintain the industrial flare. There is another long hallway that is curving like a crescent.
Most people choose option two because it looks more promising, like a normal office building. But as they make their way down the hallway, confusion settles in once again. While there may be offices, windows peer out onto a warehouse like environment. A giant crane hovers above. Forklifts whiz back and forth. Holding tanks huddle behind a cage. Building materials litter the floor. Many are left wondering what exactly is 38 Oxford Street. History holds the answer.
Time jump to 1956. The U.S. Atomic Energy Commission backs a joint project between Harvard and MIT. Their goal? To build the Cambridge Electron Accelerator or CEA right here at 38 Oxford Street. The project built a six billion electron volt machine known as a synchrotron. It was used for electron physics research. At the time, the CEA was the largest of its kind. The synchrotron was housed in the curved, crescent shaped experimental hall. It is now home to the Physics Fabrication Machine Shop and a helium liquefier on the lower level. Informatics & Scientific Applications’ offices are on the first floor and Research Computing’s offices are on the second floor.
Imagine scientists during the 1960s and early 1970s. They were using this very synchrotron to revolutionize high-energy physics. Researchers conducted experiments with external electron beams. They achieved something remarkable. They collided particles of equal mass and opposite velocities for the first time. This collision allowed the full energy of the collided particles to remain in tact. It was free to produce new phenomena. This was one of the last major experiments conducted at the CEA.
But like all things, its time in the spotlight was limited. In 1974, the CEA was shut down. Better and faster accelerators became available.
Now fast forward forty years. The old CEA building at 38 Oxford Street is still home to ground breaking science. But this time, it’s the movement of 0s and 1s through the hallways. RC’s equipment may be faster and more compact. The control room is now a window terminal on a desktop. But our mission is the same. We expand human knowledge through scientific inquiry.
So, as you walk through the doors of 38 Oxford Street, remember this story. Remember the scientists who came before. They were pushing the boundaries of knowledge. They were right here in this very building. We’ll continue to pass through the entrance to 38 Oxford Street like those before us in pursuit of the unknown.