National Center for Atmospheric Research

1850 Table Mesa Drive/ I. M. Pei Associates architect/ Brutalism style/ built 1966

The National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) has been instrumental in developing lidar, or laser beam radar, now a key archaeological tool, as well as providing a broad array of tools and technologies to the scientific community for studying climate, weather, climate change, pollutions, air chemistry, space weather, and the water cycle.

The design of the building was inspired by the Anasazi cliff dwellings of Mesa Verde. The architect, I. M. Pei, used techniques such as corduroy textured concrete, laying out geometric shapes for the buildings, and using a local sandstone aggregate in the concrete so the complex blended in with the surrounding flatirons and hills. Pei also laid out the building in a maze-like fashion to encourage greater interaction among the scientists.

The campus is comprised of a series of three, five-story towers arranged around a terrace and interconnected by a plaza at ground level, a two-story core building, and a basement linking the above grade pieces. The core building houses communal spaces, including the lobby, a small science museum, meeting rooms, cafeteria, and library. The towers have laboratories and offices. The machine shops and heavy floor-load laboratories, including computers, are in a two-level basement. On the top floors of the towers Pei designed “crows’ nests” with full glass fronts and tiny perches for a breath of fresh air surrounded by inspiring views.

I.M.Pei is the most famous architect to have designed a building in Boulder. Born in China, he attended college in Boston and set up his architecture office in NYC. His company's notable buildings include an addition to the Louvre Museum in Paris, the Kennedy library in Boston, the East Building of the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., and the Rock and Roll Museum in Cleveland.