Building 470

Building 470 was a seven-story structure at Fort Detrick containing two large fermentors designed for biological research operations. The facility featured specialized air pressure control systems built into its walls to manage safety during work inside.

The building opened in 1953 and operated as a research facility for the U.S. military until 1965 during the Cold War era. Following its closure, it underwent extensive decontamination before being demolished in 2003.

The structure represents a period when national defense priorities directed scientific research, leading to advances in understanding infectious diseases and containment protocols.

The site is part of a military base that remains restricted to authorized personnel and is not open to general visitors. However, Fort Detrick offers a visitor center and museum exhibits that provide context about the base and its historical operations.

The building's unusual seven-story height was driven entirely by the size of the two fermentation vessels it housed inside. This made it one of the few structures on the base designed from the ground up around specialized biological equipment rather than typical military needs.