The Department of Chemistry is one of the oldest at the University of Florida and has produced a number of innovative and illustrious graduates, including Nobel winner Robert Grubbs, rocket scientist Harry Sisler, and educational television pioneer John F. Baxter. UF Chemistry has expanded in accordance with the world's scientific milestones of the 20th century, accommodating everything from pharmaceuticals to quantum physics.
Now, UF chemists regularly make significant contributions to their disciplines as well as great strides in their own careers. Recent awards and honors have included two Gates Cambridge Scholarships in 2016 and 2017, an IUPAC Young Scientist Award, and the Nyholm Prize. Recent discoveries and innovations have included gold nanoparticles, smart polymers, and single-molecule magnets.
President Bernie Machen called for a new chemistry hall that would provide core facilities for chemical biologists and organic chemists, as well as fully equipped classrooms for undergraduate students. The previous building, constructed in 1947, was renovated and expanded into a new $67 million, 110,000-square foot building. The groundbreaking occurred on Oct. 10, 2014.
The building will be dedicated on April 21, 2017.
Amenities include a general chemistry lab that accommodates 286 students at a time, an organic chemistry lab that accommodates 120, an auditorium that seats 91, and two learning centers with modular desks and whiteboards.The building is LEED-certified at the gold level, with natural light, sensor-operated lighting and air conditioning, automated window shades to conserve energy, and recycling stations.
The building features science-inspired art and design, as well as clever engineering that creates a wind tunnel designed to direct air flow into the laboratories in order to contain fumes and leaks.
The building also includes 24 chemical biology labs, 9 synthesis labs, 12 offices, an optics lab, thus providing a comprehensive research and educational facility for graduate students, postdocs, and professors.
The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences is thrilled to have this new addition to our campus that will support the continued growth of chemistry research and development at the University of Florida.
