Fermilab Today Wednesday, Dec. 15, 2010
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Ed Crumpley kept Robert Wilson's vision in view


Ed Crumpley

The spiral atop the MINOS building and the half-moon of the Feynman Computing Center capture the dramatic artistic vision of Fermilab’s first director, Robert Wilson. But the bricks and mortar also capture the spirit of another Fermilab employee: Ed Crumpley.

Wilson’s legacy of making Fermilab a melting pot of art, science and nature might have lost some of its luster to utilitarian needs if not for the prodding of Crumpley.

“Let me put it this way, there would be a lot more boxes on the site,” said Vic Kuchler, who worked with Crumpley as a former head of FESS and engineering.

Crumpley retired Dec. 13, after more than three decades at the laboratory, as the last professional architect who worked with Wilson and the laboratory’s strongest connection to its artistic past. Crumpley worked most recently as head of FESS engineering.

“It’s not often that an opportunity like the one given to me here comes along,” Crumpley said. “I've been fortunate enough to work alongside Dr. Wilson, helping to translate his sculptural inspirations into building concepts, then working with dedicated customers and an unbeatably talented design team to realize these concepts into the beautiful and functional buildings and site where we work each day.  I'll always be grateful for this experience and can only hope that we have collectively done justice to Dr. Wilson's vision."

A skilled architect in his own right, Crumpley was not afraid to debate design details with Wilson, and his personal touches made their way into many Fermilab buildings. He took his designs beyond the four exterior walls, creating attractive vestibules and workspaces as well as landscaping that tied the building to its environment.

“He knew how to integrate the future and not lose the past,” said Randy Ortgiesen, head of FESS.

Crumpley started at Fermilab as a consultant when the laboratory was outgrowing its fixed-target physics program and eventually was hired as the in-house architectural arm of what would become FESS engineering. He served as chief architect for the Tevatron construction group, building the current accelerator complex and CDF and DZero detector halls. His solid presence earned him a spot on the design team for the Superconducting Super Collider in Texas, which, at the time, was the future of high-energy physics, and a spot on Deputy Director Young-Kee Kim’s master planning task force. Before time-saving computer 3-D programming existed, he created a culture of crafting models of buildings to work out kinks and share his vision, always keeping safety in mind.

“Ed was very good at making the case for design and code compliance, which was hard in the early days,” Kuchler said.

Convincing researchers and funding agencies that Fermilab needed more than just functionality, especially during tight budget cycles, wasn’t always fun. Yet Crumpley persevered through patience and a knack for showing how design could advance science. A lot of boxy, industrial-looking buildings might not hinder the science done at the laboratory, but they could destroy its character and maybe even some of its spirit. Studies show workplace environment can have an impact on creativity and morale. Crumpley always understood that.

“He recognizes a good working atmosphere is more than just exciting work. It is also your surroundings,” said Bruce Chrisman, Fermilab’s chief operating officer. “The connection he brings to our past will be sorely missed.”

-Tona Kunz

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