LABORATORIES FOR GENERAL TEACHING 39 



" The war in Europe has called the attention of the public to 

 our dependence on Germany for many kinds of chemical products. 

 This will undoubtedly prove a great stimulus to many lines of 

 manufacture in which we are now deficient, and this, in turn, will 

 create an increased demand for chemists. The increased facilities 

 which the addition will afford will make it possible for the 

 University of Illinois to do its full share in supplying this 

 demand." 



The following description of the chemical laboratory at the 

 University of Illinois is from the pen of Dr. B. S. Hopkins, a 

 member of the staff of the university. 



An addition to the chemical laboratory is being built which 

 makes a completed building in the form of a hollow square 231 

 feet by 202 feet. The centre is occupied by the main lecture 

 room, which is lighted by a skylight ; two large ventilation fans 

 are housed in the court, which arrangement prevents annoyance 

 from noise and vibration. The building is of red brick with 

 sandstone trimmings. The old part is not fire -proof, but is 

 divided into three sections by fire walls, while the new portion 

 of the building is built of fire-proof material. The floors are a 

 combination of reinforced concrete joists and hollow tile, the 

 concrete covering the tile to a depth of 2 inches, thus giving a 

 T effect. Upon the concrete the electrical conducts are laid, 

 and these are covered with a top layer of concrete, rubbed to a 

 smooth surface. The top surface consists of a layer of " rezilite 

 mastic " about J of an inch in thickness. This is a preparation 

 of elaterite containing some asbestos fibre, prepared by the 

 Wearcrete Engineering Company of Chicago. It gives elasticity 

 to the floor, and is superior to asphalt because it does not yield 

 under the pressure of heavy furniture. The floors in the halls 

 have the Terrazzo finish. 



The roof is constructed of concrete slabs which are covered 

 with wood sheeting, building paper, and slate. The purpose of 

 the wood sheeting is to give an air space for insulation purposes 

 and to furnish a better means of laying the slate. Being entirely 

 covered on all sides by fire-proof material the sheeting does not 

 increase the fire risk. 



The minor partitions are made of " pyrobar," a hollow tile 

 made of gypsum. A brick wall separates the old and the new 

 portions of the building, making it possible to completely shut 

 off either side. There is almost no wood used in the new part, 



