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Abstract
This project calls for the conversion of an abandoned coal mine in Lynch, Kentucky into a cryptocurrency cold storage facility, an architecturally provocative site ripe for tourism, and a reduced-scale energy production facility that uses a Small Modular Nuclear Reactor (SMR) for reliable and sustainable power. The project aims to provide a radical model for declining Appalachian towns to transform themselves into engaging destinations for future industry. The project will capitalize on the growing demand for secure digital resource storage and the existing infrastructure for regional tourism. By combining the unique heritage and culture of the town with an assemblage of architecture that references the existing coal infrastructure, Portal 31 becomes an attractive site that will work to move this locality away from its historically exclusive dependence on the coal industry. The viability of the project will depend on multiple factors, including market demand, civic impact, access to technological infrastructure, and local expertise. With the right investments and planning, the project has the potential to serve as the prototype for other communities like Lynch to move beyond a coal-powered future.
