Chemistry faculty and students at Iowa State will finally have new facilities in which to work as construction formally began, Saturday, on a new chemistry building.

Alumni, administrators and students attended the groundbreaking ceremony for Hach Hall on Saturday morning, on the lawn adjacent to Gilman Hall.

Speaking at the ceremony, President Gregory Geoffroy called Hach Hall “a facility truly worthy of chemistry at this university, and a facility that I know will be a catalyst for exciting new discovery and advancement in science and technology.”

Hach Hall will be the first addition to chemistry classroom and lab space since the addition to Gilman Hall 43 years ago.

Jacob Petrich, professor and chair of the chemistry department, said the building will move Iowa State’s chemistry facilities into the twenty-first century, and help attract new faculty and students.