University of Arizona Chemistry Building Renovations and Additions

Project Overview

The UArizona Chemistry-Physics building, now affectionately called “Old Chem,” was one of five buildings Sundt constructed on campus in the late 1930s funded by the Works Progress Administration (WPA). Designed by the late Tucson architect Roy Place, the Chemistry-Physics building was originally a two-story red brick structure with two main entrances. Sundt also added an additional east wing and south wing in 1948.

In 2021, we began a complete renovation of the 55,000-square-foot building, as well as new construction of an adjacent three-story, 23,000-square-foot building called The Commons. Between these two structures, Sundt is adding new offices, state-of-the-art research facilities and seven new classrooms, ranging from 30 to 200 seats. The renovated and new spaces will feature new technology and flexible seating arrangements designed to increase student engagement.

For the renovation process, we phased construction and communicated daily with UArizona staff to work around occupied offices and classrooms with minimal disruptions, and turn over finished spaces with smooth transitions. Our project team had to work closely with mechanical, electrical and plumbing partners to locate utilities and perform necessary upgrades in a safe and timely manner. Crews also relocated a machine shop and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) space, while ensuring uninterrupted power to the NMR machines for continuous operation.