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Cafeteria (Building 1213)

The headshot image of Julia L. Bradshaw

Julia L. Bradshaw

Apr 26, 2022
Article
A 1968 exterior view of the cafeteria.
A 1968 exterior view of the cafeteria.
NASA

Quick Facts

Year Built: 1946 
Historic Eligibility: National Register Eligible 
Important Tests: N/A 
Year Demolished: 2015

History

Originally constructed in 1946 as the Electrical Maintenance Building and Shop, the building was later converted to Langley’s Cafeteria and Exchange Shop. The numerous additions to the building, coupled with the renovations to convert the building to a cafeteria and exchange shop obscured the original interior floor plan. 

The final layout included the main dining hall with adjacent kitchen, as well as a large meeting room for special functions/luncheons.  The Exchange Shop, which sold gifts, merchandise and services, was located across from the meeting room.    
Prior to Building 1213 serving as the cafeteria, the original west area cafeteria had been located in Building 1227.  

The original West Area cafeteria, Building 1227, can be seen in the foreground adjacent to the large Building 1148 in this 1941 photograph.
The original West Area cafeteria, Building 1227, can be seen in the foreground adjacent to the large Building 1148 in this 1941 photograph.
NASA

Building 1227 was constructed around 1941 and was demolished prior to 1966 when Building 1205 was constructed on the same site.  Built during segregation, the floor plan of the original cafeteria reflected separate dining areas for ‘white’ and ‘colored’ with a shared kitchen area, as well as separate restrooms. Building 1213 was demolished in the spring of 2015.

In October 2014, a new cafeteria opened within the new Integrated Engineering Services Building 2102 (IESB). This new building is located adjacent to the former cafeteria’s location in Building 1213.  

A 1968 exterior view of the cafeteria.
A 1968 exterior view of the cafeteria.
NASA
A 1953 Air Scoop newsletter article about the opening of the new cafeteria, Building 1213.
A 1953 Air Scoop newsletter article about the opening of the new cafeteria, Building 1213.
NASA
A 2010 view of the cafeteria’s main dining area.
A 2010 view of the cafeteria’s main dining area.
Credit: NASA
This floorplan of the original West Area cafeteria shows segregated dining areas and restrooms.
This floorplan of the original West Area cafeteria shows segregated dining areas and restrooms.
Credit: NASA
A 1989 floorplan of Building 1213.
A 1989 floorplan of Building 1213.
Credit: NASA