UC celebrates reopening of Old Chem
One of UC's oldest buildings now has some of its latest technology
It might still look historic on the outside, but the interior of Old Chemistry features some of the University of Cincinnati’s most cutting-edge laboratories, the latest energy efficiencies and modern conservation measures.
UC cut the ribbon Wednesday on its newest academic research building after two years of construction and $190 million in renovations. Now one of UC’s oldest buildings features some of its most innovative laboratories in fields such as chemistry, biology, engineering and nursing.
UC President Neville Pinto helps reopen Old Chem during a ceremony Wednesday. Photo/Gregory Glevicky/UC
“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 said.
UC President Neville Pinto thanked Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine and the Ohio state Legislature for its funding support for the project. Ohio bonded $70 million for the project through its capital improvement fund.
Old Chem has taught generations of students in physics, chemistry and other sciences since it opened in 1917. Pinto taught chemical engineering in Old Chem, which he said was once home to a nuclear reactor, albeit one that used nonenriched uranium.
“As it has for many decades, Old Chem will remain central to our academic mission for both undergraduate and graduate education,” Pinto said.
UC reopened its academic research building Old Chemistry after $190 million in renovations. Photo/Gregory Glevicky/UC
Ohio Treasurer Robert Sprague presented Pinto with a certificate congratulating UC for Old Chem’s reopening.
“When I think of the University of Cincinnati and what makes it special, it’s not just being a flagship university for the state and the incredible arts programs and architecture programs, it’s also your emphasis on science, technology, engineering and math where you lead our great state,” Sprague said.
“It’s filled with these modern classrooms and state-of-the-art laboratory space,” Sprague said. “Classrooms for engineering, biology, chemistry, anatomy, physiology, nursing — so many other programs that are important not just for the future of our state but for the future of these young people.”
These labs encourage collaboration among students of different programs, mirroring the real-world collaborative environments they will encounter in co-op placements and throughout their careers.
John "Marty" Emmert, UC College of Engineering and Applied Science
Reflection of three UC colleges
UC College of Arts and Sciences Dean James Mack, a chemist, noted that this year marks the 150th anniversary of the Chemistry Department at UC. UC will recognize the occasion later this month.
“This reopening is not just the restoration of brick and mortar but a renewal of our commitment to the pursuit of knowledge and the fostering of interdisciplinary collaboration,” Mack said.
Mack invoked the memory of the late George Rieveschl, a chemistry alumnus and engineering professor who invented Benadryl. Today his name graces the nearby Rieveschl Hall. And like Rieveschl, Mack said he envisions the renovated Old Chem facilitating collaboration among students and faculty from various scientific disciplines across colleges.
Likewise, UC College of Engineering and Applied Science Interim Dean John “Marty” Emmert said UC undergraduates will get a chance to work in state-of-the-art labs with classmates across disciplines.
“These labs encourage collaboration among students of different programs, mirroring the real-world collaborative environments they will encounter in co-op placements and throughout their careers,” Emmert said.
Ohio Treasurer Robert Sprague helps reopen UC's latest academic research building, Old Chemistry, after two years of renovations. Photo/Gregory Glevicky/UC
About Old Chem
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, UC Architect Monika Watkins said.
“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.
“This project bridges more than a century of academic legacy with the future of scientific discovery,” he said. “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 needless bird strikes like those that kill an estimated 2 billion birds each year in the United States.
Old Chem also has a rooftop pollinator garden and public displays of chemistry laboratory artifacts from the Department of Chemistry’s Oesper Museum, including signed photos of Marie Curie that the Nobel laureate dedicated to UC students.
Featured image at top: UC President Neville Pinto and Ohio Treasurer Robert Sprague help cut the ribbon on Old Chemistry. Photo/Gregory Glevicky/UC
UC's Old Chem features a multistory atrium that fills the space with natural light. Photo/Gregory Glevicky/UC
The national champion UC Bearcat dressed for the occasion in a labcoat to mark the reopening of Old Chem. Photo/Gregory Glevicky/UC
The public spaces of Old Chem feature displays of antique chemistry equipment and history from UC's Oesper Collection, a chemistry museum on UC's Uptown Campus. Photo/Gregory Glevicky/UC
UC reopened Old Chem, which features a multistory atrium with study spaces for students. Photo/Gregory Glevicky/UC
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