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NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES \ NOV 6 1985
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2101 CONSTITUTION AVENUE WASHINGTON, D.C. 20418 Cite CF THE presioe

  
          
 

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November 1, 1985
OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT

Dear Colleague:

I'm delighted to inform you that, in concert with
the National Academy of Engineering, we will establish
a West Coast study center, at Irvine California. This
new facility was made possible by the extraordinary
philanthropy of the Arnold and Mabel Beckman
Foundation, which will provide $20 million for its
construction and operation. The Irvine Company has
generously agreed to donate the land. The center
will, by easing their travel burdens, enhance the
participation of our Western members in the studies
undertaken by the two Academies through the National
Research Council.

The enclosed press announcement, to be released
November 4th, provides further details on this new
venture. As you may imagine, negotiations for this
venture have been complex and protracted; indeed, the
final instruments have just been executed. That
negotiations have come to a successful conclusion is a
tribute to Arnold Beckman and to Donald Bren, of the
Irvine Company. It is“aTSo a tribute to the members
of your Council, who provided continuing guidance and
counsel throughout the several months, of
negotiations. It is, finally, a tribute to the
collegial spirit in which the two Academies were able
to operate. The facility will be known as the Arnold
and Mabel Beckman Center of the National Academy of
Sciences and the National Academy of Engineering.

I will, of course, welcome your comments and
questions regarding this new addition, both now and
during the regional Academy meetings in the months
ahead.

Sincerely,

Gioukffieee

Frank Press
President