The National Register Statement of Significance reads:

In this small research laboratory at the University of California at Berkeley, the man-made element plutonium, was first identified. From that day in February 1941, atomic research continued until ultimately a new source of energy had been developed. Had it not been for the momentous discovery here, neither the atomic explosives used in 1945 to end the War with Japan, nor the subsequent development of nuclear energy reactors would have been possible.