What if these very walls could talk? This is Havemeyer Hall. It stands as a testament to groundbreaking chemistry research at Columbia University.
Havemeyer Hall was built between 1896 and 1898. It is named for Frederick Christian Havemeyer, a Columbia graduate. Charles Frederick Chandler directed its construction. He was a leading figure in the chemistry department.
This building is one of the original six on the Morningside Heights campus. It’s a designated National Historic Chemical Landmark. The Department of Chemistry calls Havemeyer Hall home. Most chemistry classes take place here.
Imagine the countless experiments conducted within these walls. Many important discoveries in chemistry occurred here. Prominent chemists of the 20th century did significant research here. Marston Taylor Bogert and Henry C. Sherman are among them. Milton C. Whitaker and John Maurice Nelson also contributed.
Remarkably, seven individuals who researched in Havemeyer Hall received the Nobel Prize in Chemistry. Irving Langmuir won in 1932. He was honored for his work on surface chemistry. Harold Clayton Urey won in 1934 for discovering deuterium.
But Havemeyer Hall is not just about science. It has appeared in several movies. Room 309, the grand lecture hall designed by Charles Follen McKim, is a popular filming location. You might recognize it from Spider-Man, Ghostbusters, and Mona Lisa Smile. The Mirror Has Two Faces and Malcolm X also filmed scenes here.
The building’s architecture reflects the brilliance of Charles Follen McKim. He transformed the Columbia campus. It became one of the city’s great monuments of the American Renaissance. Inside Havemeyer Hall, the corridors still feature the original mosaic tiles.
When the cornerstone was laid in 1896, Columbia was preparing to move to this campus. At that time, many young American students went to Europe for advanced training in chemistry. Havemeyer Hall helped change that. It became home to one of the most prestigious chemistry departments in the country.
Charles Frederick Chandler played a crucial role in establishing the chemistry department. He attracted numerous students. His influence on chemical research was immense. Chandler also served as president of the Health Department of New York City.
Marston Taylor Bogert initiated modern organic chemistry research at Columbia. Henry Clapp Sherman investigated human nutritional requirements. John Maurice Nelson studied enzymes. These men made pioneering contributions to their fields within Havemeyer Hall.
The east end of Havemeyer once housed the Chandler Chemical Museum. It contained rare objects and classroom exhibits. There were thousands of organic compounds and early photographs. A collection of pre-World War I German dyes was particularly important.
Today, Havemeyer Hall stands as a centerpiece. It is part of a three-building complex. It includes the Chandler Laboratories and a new annex. Havemeyer’s grand lecture hall remains in its original design.
So, as you stand before Havemeyer Hall, remember its legacy. It’s a place of scientific discovery and academic excellence. It is a building that has shaped the world of chemistry.