Facilities and Equipment: The Chemistry Building, c.1928 and 2010.
The emphasis on Science and Engineering and the need to meet the expectations of a School of the University of London meant that by 1912 the College’s priority was a new Chemistry laboratory.
The Drapers’ Company financed this new building which was opened in 1914. However, by 1936 more lab space was required:
‘The fourth floor was added recently by means of jacking up the existing roof and building up to meet it, an engineering job, by the way, that was done without so much as cracking the ceiling plaster…The research laboratories are equipped for advanced work in Chemistry so that students doing research for MSc PhD and DSc degrees are adequately provided for.’
Of course, since then requirements have continued to develop and progress, and in 1967 a new Chemistry building was opened by the Queen Mother, and The Joseph Priestley building has superseded it recently.