CINCINNATI, OH — It might still look historic on the outside, but the interior of the University of Cincinnati’s (UC) renovated Old Chemistry building features custom laboratories, the latest energy efficiency, and wildlife conservation measures.
The University of Cincinnati hosted the reopening of Old Chemistry after two years and $190 million in renovations.
The project includes custom laboratories for chemistry, anatomy and physiology, and engineering; along with classrooms, offices, and study spaces. The centerpiece is a multistory atrium with skylights and windows that provide ample natural light.
“Through two years of construction and the dedication of 1,300 crew members working 665,000 hours, we have transformed this facility into a modern, accessible, inspiring space for teaching, discovery, and community connections,” Provost John Weidner said.
“The work done here will touch lives far beyond its walls,” Weidner added.
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Old Chemistry will provide easier access for students navigating campus — along with interdisciplinary lab spaces for students in the College of Engineering and Applied Science and the College of Arts and Sciences, according to UC Architect Monika Watkins.
“It creates spaces that are more collaborative,” Watkins said. “And it also changes the way students experience the building and connect with what’s inside, outside, and around it. We have a campus that’s hilly with a lot of challenging slopes. But we continue to improve accessibility for everyone.”
Before the partial demolition of the building, UC preserved a custom-made Rookwood tile fountain from 1921. The reinstalled fountain features a detailed interpretive display explaining the significance of its pictures, symbols, and quotes that tell the history of chemistry across the ages. Windows in the building also echo the fountain’s design.
“The completion of the newly renovated Old Chemistry building marks a defining moment in our partnership with the University of Cincinnati,” said Chris Hopper, Executive Vice President and General Manager of Skanska USA’s Cincinnati office.
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“This project bridges more than a century of academic legacy with the future of scientific discovery,” he added. “We are honored to have delivered a facility that not only respects the historical character of the original structure but is also a world-class space where the next generation of researchers, educators, and students will learn, collaborate, and innovate.”
The energy-efficient building includes bird-safe glass. The patterned windows prevent bird strikes, like those that kill an estimated 2 billion birds each year in the United States.
Old Chemistry also has a rooftop pollinator garden and public displays of chemistry laboratory artifacts from the Department of Chemistry’s Oesper Museum.
