Underground Buildings: More Than Meets the Eye

Loretta Hall holds a degree in mathematics from the University of Washington and is a member of Phi Beta Kappa. Formerly a high school teacher, she is now a freelance writer and technical writing instructor. Partly a generalist, she has written two books and numerous magazine articles on topics including history, multiculturalism, and tourism. Also a specialist, she has written articles for magazines and reference books about the mid-tech topics of engineering, construction, and manufacturing. Six books to which Hall contributed chapters have been named “outstanding reference sources” by the New York Public Library and/or the Reference and User Services Association (a division of the American Library Association).

Hall is a member of the Construction Writers Association and SouthWest Writers. She lives in Albuquerque, New Mexico, with her husband, Jerome Hall.

Introduction

I first started thinking about underground buildings when I walked into the Centennial Science and Engineering Library at the University of New Mexico several years ago. This was a new experience. Above the building, only an array of skylights and a small, mostly glass room enclosing an elevator and a stairway obstructed the campus. This was interesting, I thought. I wondered if this was very unusual. Not really, I found out. Right next door is an underground physics laboratory and classroom building. Downtown, I discovered, a cluster of upscale shops takes up no visible space, snuggling under a large patio where office workers can enjoy an outdoor lunch. All of this in Albuquerque, New Mexico not exactly the avant-garde capitol of the country. There must be more examples, I thought. But where? Why? How can we be sure they are safe? I embarked on a fascinating journey of research, which I invite you to share as you read this book.

After I read everything I could find about buildings constructed within the earth, I worked up the nerve to contact several pioneers of modern underground construction. Without exception, they were gracious and cooperative, happy to share their experience. “I used to say to people, twenty years ago, that when you stop hearing about these things [earth-covered buildings], it will mean they are no longer novel,” Frank Moreland, one of the pioneers, told me. “Nationwide, these things are being built all over the place. They are no longer unusual enough to report on,” he said. I decided to report on them.

It reminds me of a Bertrand Russell paradox. The fact that underground buildings are no longer noteworthy, is noteworthy.

Unusual as they are, underground buildings are surprisingly common. They can be found all over the world. Significant developments exist in Japan, China, Australia, Russia, and throughout Europe. In the United States, they represent a small percentage of the nearly 80 million public and private structures. Still, there are thousands of them. I d be willing to bet that most people have experienced at least one, perhaps without even thinking about it.

Thinking about it, however, is part of the problem. The idea of entering an underground building is (usually) much more intimidating than the reality of doing it. In fact, many of these buildings are so skillfully designed that most people do not even realize that they are descending below the surface of the earth when they enter them. Yet, somehow, there is often a moment of panic when people think about going underground or suddenly realize that they re already there.

I invite you, in the following chapters, to experience more than 100 underground buildings in the United States and Canada. As you read about these examples, you will notice that pragmatic and aesthetic considerations vie for prominence. You will find impressive success stories and discouraging tales of failure. Some underground buildings are incredibly energy-efficient, for example, and others leaked so badly they were abandoned. You will see a vast style spectrum, ranging from stunning examples of hidden opulence to humble subterranean cubbyholes where unassuming people immerse themselves in nature s simplicity.

I am not a zealot proclaiming that I have found the answer to mankind s shelter problems. Overall, I am convinced that these buildings can be safe, practical, and attractive despite the fact that I tend to be claustrophobic. But, I do not think underground buildings are always superior to aboveground structures. They may be more suitable in some places, for some purposes, for some reasons. The underground option should simply be given equal consideration in the planning process for any new building.

There are too many subterranean structures, even in this limited part of the world, to describe or even to identify. That is why this book is an introduction, not an encyclopedia. You may know of a great example that is not mentioned here. I hope this book will arouse your awareness enough to notice it. Perhaps you will even develop an attitude like that of a devoted bird watcher, ever alert for an unexpected encounter with a new manifestation.If you find one that is not on my list, tell me about it by e-mail. While you re there, check the site for additional information and new developments.

In trying to answer the how and why questions about underground buildings, I have tried to explain design concepts and construction techniques in ways that are informative without being intimidating. This book is designed as a tour, not a treatise. I hope you find it interesting, informative, and fun.