In 1962, construction of a prototype community fallout shelter began in Seattle, WA. It was designed to accommodate around 200 people. The facility was dedicated on March 29, 1963. While the shelter was permanently closed in 2022, it still remains a piece of our nuclear history and I-5.
The entrance hallway was designed with several right-angle turns to prevent gamma rays from reaching the interior.
The shelter was designed by the Seattle engineering firm Anderson Bjornstad Kane; it was built by McDonald Construction of Seattle for $67,300.
The building is approximately 3,000 square feet, with an 18-inch-thick concrete roof and 15-inch-thick walls. The main entrance uses a metal sliding grate that opens up to a concrete hallway. This takes you to the main part of the shelter. For a period of time, the facility acted as a public records center.
The maintenance room contained a diesel-powered electric generator, an air circulation system with heat and air conditioning, a well and pipes that connected to the city water and sewer systems.
There were two bathrooms, which housed three toilets, a urinal, two sinks and two decontamination showers.
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