Institute Of Chemistry, Chemistry Building, University Of Glasgow, University Avenue, Glasgow

The Institute of Chemistry, also known as the Chemistry Building at the University of Glasgow, is a three-storey Art Deco teaching and research facility designed by T Harold Hughes and D S R Waugh between 1936 and 1939, with completion in 1950-54 by Alexander Waugh & Kay, who added a timber upper storey in 1963 and 1966. The building underwent an extension for the Reading Room in 1982 and refurbishments from 1986 to 1993, as well as updates to the main lecture theatre and most laboratories from 2004 to 2006.

The structure features a butterfly plan with wings radiating from a central body, connected by curving, vertically glazed stair towers. It is constructed from machine-made narrow 'Roman' yellow brick, with reinforced concrete banding. There are two main entrances to the north that lead into boldly glazed carved stairwells, with lettering above the doors, flanking the physical chemistry block, which has full-height vertical stairlights. Additional entrances have plain doorpieces and die walls. The ground floor projects with windows set in brick piers in the central physical chemistry block, and there are simple mouldings at the ground level, as well as bands at the ground and first floors.

On the southeast elevation, the earlier part of the building features a tripartite window with a relief memorial panel dedicated to Joseph Priestley (1733-1804). The second floor has a frieze on the south wall with incised animal carvings. The later northwest block facing University Place includes a memorial tablet for Joseph Black (1728-1799) on the north wall, with a semi-engaged podium and cornice. The windows are mainly metal-framed, three-light horizontal designs with concrete mullions, and the roofs are flat or shallow-pitched, with prominent modern ducting pipes.

Inside, as observed in 2010, the original room layout remains largely intact, although much has been refurbished and modernized. Curved principal and subsidiary staircases feature metal balustrades, and there are brass Art Deco door handles on corridor fire doors and the Main Lecture Theatre doors. Some corridors and teaching rooms retain 1950s timber paneling and parquet flooring.

The gateway and railings to University Place consist of metal gates and railings featuring a chevron design.