B.— CHEMISTRY. £9 



It soon became evident that some increase in economy and efficiency 

 could be attained by bringing together under one roof these scattered 

 groups of workers who would receive encouragement and stimulus by 

 becoming part of a more centralised scientific organisation. 



A suitable site was chosen on the Bushy Park Estate in close proximity 

 to the National Physical Laboratory and the Admiralty Research 

 Laboratory, and here in 1924 the building of a chemical laboratory was 

 commenced on a plot of land allowing ample scope for future expansion. 



The original plans drawn out by the architects of H.M. Office of Works 

 made provision for three laboratory units each of rectangular shape and 

 built round four sides of a central courtyard. The front and back of the 

 hollow rectangle consist of two two-storey blocks ; the front block designed 

 for general and special small scale laboratories with the necessary offices, 

 the back block arranged to accommodate workshops, service rooms and 

 heating plant. The two sides of the rectangle, which consist of two 

 single-storey blocks with saw-toothed roofs, north lighted and with 

 a clear head room of about sixteen feet, give adequate space for large- 

 scale laboratories. 



These buildings are constructed in steel and brick and so arranged that 

 partitions can be readily removed for alterations or extensions. In the 

 two-storey blocks the floors and roofs are formed of hollow concrete tubes, 

 but in the engineering section of the building, where heavy superloading 

 had to be considered, a more rigid type of construction in steel and 

 concrete floors was adopted. In the interest of economy, plaster and 

 other relatively expensive internal finishings were omitted wherever 

 possible, any distemper or paint being applied to flush-pointed brickwork. 

 The floors were covered with stout cork carpet, laid directly on the 

 cement rendering. 



The laboratories are equipped with specially designed fittings, the 

 framing and fronts are of stained British Columbia pine, whereas the bench 

 tops and other portions subjected to hard wear are in teak or Iroko wood. 

 The internal drainage to laboratory sinks is effected by open stone-ware 

 three-quarter circular channels finished with acid-resisting glaze. Wherever 

 exposed internally, structural steel and joiners' work are coated with acid- 

 resisting paint. The benches of small scale and special laboratories carry 

 five services — gas, water, steam, vacuum and compressed air. Each 

 room is amply supplied with electric current (D.C.) 



In conformity with the neighbouring buildings of the National Physical 

 Laboratory, a simple modern Georgian style was adopted in the design 

 of the elevations of the new laboratory. The buildings are faced 

 externally with multi-stone sand face bricks, reconstructed Portland 

 stone being used sparingly in cornices, string courses and entrance 

 doorways. 



The construction of one of these units was started towards the end of 

 1924, and when scientific work was commenced in the autumn of 1925 

 about one-third of the first unit had been built, although actually only 

 one room was ready for occupation. The fitting of the remaining 

 laboratories and workshop was, however, rapidly effected, and by the 

 end of 1926 the whole of the available space was fully occupied, the staff 

 then consisting of the superintendent and ten chemists, with one 



