The Present Situation

At first sight it would appear that the massive Science Building, dominating the University site, must provide an answer to accommodation problems for some years to come. But in fact the relief afforded is not great. The Departments of Chemistry, Geology and Geography can expect to function effciently and handle a good many more students than they have at present, and the nine extra classrooms in the building will provide a solution to one problem that was becoming urgent.

As enrolments have increased, so there has been an increase in the size of a number of small advanced classes that have been normally held in Professors' studies. The need to hold such classes in lecture rooms has led to a steady pressure on teaching space, with the result that on most evenings in the week every classroom is in use, and classes effectively too large for studies nevertheless have to be squeezed in to them. The new classrooms in the Science Building will ease this pressure.

Otherwise the gains for general teaching purposes are small. Apart from the fact that the huts formerly occupied by the Departments of Geology and Geography had arrived here after arduous service with the American Army in the Pacific, and have now completely outlived their useful life, the lease has expired on the City Council land where they are located, and the University is obliged to dismantle and remove the buildings. So the only gains in space for general purposes are the two floors of the present Chemistry Wing, erected in 1906 and designed for the teaching of Science; and four classrooms on the top floor of the Science Building.