SURVEY CENTER IN MP TO BE DOUBLED IN SIZE

The U.S. government has decided definitely to build an addition which would more than double the size of the U.S. Geological Survey building in Menlo Park and make it the Survey’s headquarters in the West.

A spokesman said a "top level" decision on the exact size of the building and when construction will get under way will be made within 30 to 60 days.

The addition, when completed will house most U.S. Geological Survey functions of the western states. The addition would make Menlo Park the western headquarters for the Survey, a branch of the Department of the Interior, the spokesman said.

It was estimated that the addition would be from 40,000 to 70,000 square feet in size and would cost from $500,000 to $1 million.

The existing Survey building in the Linfield Oaks section of Menlo Park has 40,000 square feet of floor space in its two stories.

The addition reportedly will be built in part on government-owned land in adjoining Stanford Village and in part on land owned by the Claude T. Lindsay Co.

The type of construction is still undetermined. Alternatives are to build a separate block-type structure similar to the present building or a finger-shaped wing to the existing building.

Construction of the addition, the spokesman said, is in line with the U.S. Geological Survey’s policy of housing its regional divisions in a single central office.

The present building now houses the geologic division, water resources division and administrative division, but portions of all three units also are scattered in other cities in the western states. When the addition is completed, these outside units are due to be brought to Menlo Park.

Two other units of the Geological Survey--the topographic and conservation divisions--now are entirely outside of Menlo Park. It is not planned to bring them here when the first addition is completed. However, the two divisions may be brought to Menlo Park at a later date if a future addition is authorized for the local facility.

Palo Alto Times
February 1, 1955

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