The U-shaped building was constructed as part of the university's expansion at the end of the 19th century. Together with the neighbouring buildings of the Institute of Physiology and the Anatomical Institute, it formed an ensemble of uniform neo-renaissance architecture with elements of neo-classicism, standing on the border of the new Muessmatt university district, well visible to those arriving here from the city centre. [expand]

The original design of the building was prepared by Otto Lustdorf, but, as in the case of the Anatomical Institute, Stempkowski drew up a counter-design which, after amendments, was sent for implementation. The functional distribution of this symmetrically designed building was determined by the needs of Arnold Rossel, a professor in the department of inorganic chemistry, and Stanisław Kostanecki, a professor in the department of organic chemistry. Half of the one-storey front part and the one-storey transverse wings of the building were devoted to the needs of each of them. This layout followed the most modern models of the time ¬ the Institute of Chemistry in Freiburg im Breisgau, which had been completed a few years earlier, was laid out in a similar way. Rossel and Kostanecki expressed their complete satisfaction with the functionality of the newly constructed building. This is all the more important because - although Stempkowski shied away from designing an 'aesthetically appealing' building, emphasising the importance of expediency and usability ¬ in fact his architecture is still largely determined by the design habits of the historicist era (e.g. strict symmetry and Renaissance-classical detailing).

The building was demolished at the end of the 1960s as no longer meeting modern needs. It was replaced by a modernist complex designed by Rolf A. Berger (realised 1969-1974). Thus, the homogeneous urban composition formed by the three institutes of Stempkowski's design was partially distorted.

Technical data: brick buildings with brick facades.