Aiken Computation Laboratory [Demolished]
Address33, Oxford Street, Cambridge, MA, United States of America, 02138
Site Number314
Alternate Names
Howard Hathaway Aiken Computation Laboratory,
Building Root Number
N/A
Architect (Original)
Coolidge, Shepley, Bulfinch, and Abbott
Constructed
1947
Building Acquired 1947
Demolished 1997
Building Acquired 1947
Demolished 1997
StatusInactive
Site Name HistoryThe site is named for Professor Howard Hathaway Aiken (March 8, 1900 – March 14, 1973). Aiken received his PhD. In physics from Harvard in 1939. He received the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Edison Medal in 1970 "For a meritorious career of pioneering contributions to the development and application of large-scale digital computers and important contributions to education in the digital computer field."Historical NotesHarvard funded the construction of this building to house the giant calculator donated to the University in 1944 by International Business Machines (IBM). The building is named for Professor Howard H. Aiken who operated the calculator, which was over 50 feet in length.Additional InformationHarvard University Archives. Construction Management Records, ca. 1953-1986. Harvard University Archives call number UAV 298.8000
Maycock, Susan E., and Charles Sullivan. Building old Cambridge: architecture and development. Cambridge, MA: The MIT Press, 2016. Print. Lamont Library call number NA735.C28 M39 2016; Loeb Design Library call number NA735.C28 M39 2016.
“Computation Lab Built to House Giant Calculator.” The Harvard Crimson, 4 June 1996, https://www.thecrimson.com/article/1996/6/4/computation-lab-built-to-house-giant/.
“Mechanical Brain Gets New Home at Harvard.” Cambridge Chronicle, 2 Jan. 1947, p. 11.
