Quick Facts
Year Built: 1929
Historic Eligibility: National Register Eligible
History
The construction of Building 583A, which was planned to serve as a combination heating plant, storehouse and garage, was authorized in February 1929 and completed in September of that same year.
In 1940, the building was modified to include electrical and maintenance shops. References from 1950 to a coal silo suggest heat was originally generated by coal. The silo was removed in 1958, followed by demolition of a brick smokestack in 1961. The real property record of 1965 indicates the building was heated by steam generated by an oil furnace.
When the Low Turbulence Pressure Tunnel (Building 582A) was freonized in the late 1940s, Building 583A housed the freon regeneration equipment. When the Hypersonic Flow Apparatus was constructed, a high-pressure compressor was installed in Building 583A to support the apparatus. By 1977, all the equipment was considered surplus.
By 1970, the facility name was changed to Hi-Compressor Vacuum Support Facility. At one time, the facility housed a Hi-Reynolds Number Helium Tunnel. Records indicate that the Mach-10 leg of the tunnel was disassembled and excessed in 1983.
NASA entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with the Air Force, allowing the 1st Combat Support Group to utilize the portion of the building used as offices. The remainder of the building was used by NASA as a Diagnostics and Calibration Lab. The facility was listed by NASA as closed in March 1996 and was scheduled to be turned over to the Air Force in May 1997. Although the Air Force continued to occupy the building, it remained in the NASA inventory.
Other use of the building prior to its demolition included storage for 16-Inch and 6- by 28-Inch Transonic Wind Tunnel. The facility was demolished in 2014.
Search the NASA Technical Reports Server for additional examples of work conducted in this facility.
