This document discusses artifacts and structures from the lighter-than-air era at Moffett Field, including Hangar One's "Cork Room". The Cork Room stored gas cells from the USS Macon dirigible and is the last remaining artifact from that era besides Hangar One. It discusses plans to sample and potentially preserve the cork room, as well as proposals to preserve other artifacts like windows and rail cars. The Navy is requested to preserve more items and reallocate funds to increasing the budget for historic preservation.

1. Hangar One’s “Cork Room”
and Other Artifacts/Structures
Lenny Siegel & Linda Ellis
Moffett Field RAB Meeting
July 8, 2010

2. The 225-foot long Cell Room, known as
the “Cork Room” because it is
constructed with cork, was used to store
massive deflated gas cells from the
U.S.S. Macon dirigible.
Other than Hangar One itself, the Cork
Room is believed to be the last
remaining artifact of the lighter-than-air
era at Moffett Field.

3. July 1, 2010 Tour

4. Cork Wall

5. Cork Cross-Section at Doorway

6. Original Storage Shelves

7. Conveyor System

8. Navy Plan
• Preserve steel frame in place and
remove conveyor for storage.
• Sample cork, plaster (stucco), and wood
for contamination. (agreed on July 1)
• No promise to preserve porous
materials.

9. Proposed RAB Position
(offered July 1 by RAB representatives)
• Preservation of the entire Cork Room in place, if safe, is the preferred
option.
• NASA should request preservation.
• If cork is not contaminated, Navy should substitute weatherproofing for
demolition. (possible cost, contractual issues)
The recommendation for constructability and highest level of
preservation by Rick Millitello, Hardip Pannu, and Linda Ellis is to
completely encapsulate the Cork Room and equipment in place with a
single ply roofing that is seam adhered only. Do not adhere the roofing
to the plaster and structure, then sheet metal flash the roofing around
the perimeter at the base following SMACNA standards.
• Asked pro bono consultant to consider ways to preserve cork panels.
Not recommended as panels will be difficult to remove and
reinstallation will have seams that will never be the same after
reconstruction.

10. Next Items to Preserve
• THE WINDOWS ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT ARTIFACTS
FOR THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION OF HANGAR ONE.
• Navy and NASA requested to confirm the following:
1. ALL rail cars will be removed and stored for future installation.
2. The propeller platforms, integral to the third floor steel cell floor
and guardrail systems will be left in place.
3. The steel framed handling hoist and elevator controls on the roof
will be left in place.
4. The mooring masts and turntables set in concrete below the
orange peel doors will remain to allow future door operation.
5. Provide photos of the Antenna Room contents. The contents
might be valuable for contents for museum display. Priority-TBD

11. Next Items to Preserve
• Navy is requested to omit the following items from the current
scope of work and reallocate funds to the increase the
$75,000 budget for Historic Preservation.
1. Vertical steel wall panels on first floor. The vertical steel
walls will need to be torched for removal and can be cleaned
and coated with the structure. The money saved on
demolition labor should be added to the $75,000 budget for
artifact preservation.
2. Clay Block Room on the first floor is not painted and if
poses no known hazards, the money saved on demolition
labor should be added to the $75,000 budget for artifact
preservation.

12. Requested Processes for
Deconstruction
• Contractor training for found artifacts
during deconstruction.
• Webcam filming
• Artifact contingency for unforeseen
and discovered artifacts