Chemistry Building, 1923
From CSU's Sense of Place: A Campus History of Colorado's Land-Grant University, by James E. Hansen, Gordon A. Hazard, and Linda M. Meyer. Fort Collins, CO: Colorado State University, 2018.
Architects - Eugene G. Groves (original building), Sidney G. Frazier (1949 addition), Ralph T. Virtur (1971 remodeling)
Builder – C. E. Walker Construction Company of Denver (original building), Anderson Construction Company of Denver (1949 addition), Lang-Murphy Construction Company (1982 stairway addition)
841 Oval Drive
The devastating fire on December 22, 1921 that destroyed the 1898-vintage Chemical Building southeast of Old Main necessitated the building of a new chemistry building as soon as possible. Located on the west side of the Oval, this building was designed by architect Eugene G. Groves. Approval was granted and construction was started in the summer of 1922. The formal laying of the cornerstone took place on August 30, 1922 with Colorado Governor Oliver H. Shoup attending and doing the honors. The Chemistry Building was ready for use on March 5, 1923.
In April 1923, the new building was described in that year’s Summer Session Catalog as “The new Chemistry building is a thoroughly modern, two-story, fireproof structure, 158’ x 55 ½’ with annex 15’ x 40’. On the first floor are the Inorganic, Organic and Analytical Laboratories all supplied from a large central stock room. These laboratories have a total capacity of 1152 students. On the second floor are four classrooms with seating capacity of 54 each, a large amphitheater seating 180, offices, geology room, private laboratory and water analysis laboratory. The amphitheater is connected with a preparation room and this and all of the classrooms are fitted with lecture desks completely equipped for demonstration work.”
Later, at the end of World War II, enrollment at the College soared. During the summer of 1946 the basement of the building was heavily remodeled to accommodate additional laboratory and storage space. Excavation work was needed to complete this project.
A windstorm in 1949 removed a portion of the red-tile roof that resulted in a major repair job. In January 1950, the large addition on the west side of the building was completed and opened for use. This addition had been designed by Architect Sidney G. Frazier. When the next new Chemistry Building was opened in 1971, this building became known as the “Old Chemistry Building”. The Department of Visual Arts had lost most of its space from the fire that destroyed Old Main on May 8, 1970. They moved classes into this building as well as parts of Aylesworth Hall as they awaited the construction of the first phase of the Visual Arts Building. They were able to move out in late 1973. Classes for the Department of Economics and the Department of Mathematics began using the building.
In 1976, a $1.2 million remodeling project designed by Architect Ralph T. Virtur was done. On February 29, 1980 it was officially renamed the “Louis Weber Building” by the State Board of Agriculture. Professor of Physics Louis Russell Weber (1901-1989) was credited with developing the current Physics program at the University. In 1982, a stairway and elevator addition were added to the north end of the building by the Lang-Murphy Construction Company to give better access to the building.
In September 1983, the digital age had dawned with the first Micro Services Organization (MSO) Computer Lab being opened in Room 221. This lab featured the early desktop computers like Apple II, Apple III, Atari 880, IBM-PC, HP-9845, Franklin ACE 1000, Radio Shack, and Control Data 110. Over the next 25 years the space grew, new equipment was added as this evolved into the home of Academic Computing Network Services (ACNS). In 2010, ACNS was moved to the Morgan Library.
The Department of Mathematics continues to use the Weber Building which includes the Math Testing Center where thousands of students have struggled to test out of their assigned math modules over the years.
Sources by Gordon A. Hazard
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