Heathcock Hall Construction Update

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Photo slideshow: Heathcock Hall construction progress
Image credit: Barbara Karvelot

A 21st Century space for 21st Century science 

Work is underway on the first new building project since the completion of Tan Hall in 1997 -- Heathcock Hall -- reflecting our commitment to creating a state-of-the-art learning environment for the College that will support us well into the 21st Century. With four floors encompassing modern research and teaching space, Heathcock Hall will be unlike any other on the Berkeley campus. Its flexible spaces will support the dynamic intellectual, social, and creative life of our faculty  and students.

This page provides an overview of key construction updates created for occupants and visitors of neighboring buildings. Information about the project will also be available on the Capital Strategies website.

Construction Activity

Project Milestones

  • Air Intake Relocation - April 2025
  • Egress Stairs at Latimer Hall - April 2025
  • Lewis and Latimer Connecting Link - May 2025
  • Make Ready Phase Complete - June 2025
  • Retaining Wall Complete - July 2025
  • Start Structural Steel - October 2025
  • Start Exterior Facade - January 2026
  • Structural Top Out - February 2026
  • Exterior Skin Complete - June 2026
  • Elevators Operational - August 2026
  • Street Improvements Complete - August 2026
  • Phase 2 Complete - March 2027

Heathcock Hall Videos

  • Heathcock Hall Crane Erection (Plant Construction)
    A crane was recently erected at the Heathcock Hall site to lift heavy beams and, eventually, roof-mounted mechanical systems. Along with the personnel hoist, this equipment is essential for transporting materials and crews as the building rises.
  • Make Ready Work at UC Berkeley Heathcock Hall (Plant Construction)
    Plant's team at Heathcock Hall discusses the intricate make-ready work that will enable the new building's construction to commence.
  • Building the Future of UC Berkeley Chemistry (UC Berkeley Inspires)
    Chancellor Rich Lyons, Dean Douglas Clark, and three College of Chemistry professors describe UC Berkeley's legacy of breakthrough chemical discoveries and touch on the achievements to come in Heathcock Hall — the future hub for research, education, and innovation.
  • Heathcock Hall Capital Campaign (2024) (Berkeley Chemistry) 
    Presentation about the funding campaign for the new building at the College of Chemistry, UC Berkeley.

About Heathcock Hall

Heathcock Hall will be a vibrant hub for new highly interdisciplinary research and education to address society’s needs by providing more efficient and effective catalysts, biologically engineered renewable materials, novel nanomaterials for artificial photosynthesis, ultra-fast and secure quantum-based data processing architectures, and alternative molecular products that set new standards of function and sustainability.

  • Opportunities for Partnerships: You can join us in completing this vision for our future.
  • Give Online: Help support Heathcock Hall by giving online. Choose 'The New Frontiers Fund', which directs donations to Heathcock Hall.
  • Give by Phone: Donors who wish to make a credit card gift over the phone may call the Gift Services office at 510-643-9789 between 9:00 AM-4:00 PM PST, Monday-Friday.
  • Groundbreaking Event: Read all about the historic groundbreaking event that took place on Thursday, May 2. 

Architectural drawing showing aerial view of Heathcock Hall's location in relation to the Chemistry Complex buildings.

Rendering of Heathcock Hall

Reinvigorating the campus’ eastern gateway, the roughly 80,000 square foot building will attract rising leaders from around the world to the chemical sciences. 

The future Heathcock Hall Heathcock Hall will contain four stories of modern laboratory space.

Heathcock Hall will contain four stories of modern laboratory space to accommodate research in synthetic chemistry, physical chemistry, and chemical and biomolecular engineering. 

Rendering of Heathcock Hall with students on the plaza.

World-class faculty, students and visiting researchers will come together in modern, modular laboratories—environmentally efficient, state-of-the-art facilities — that will provide optimal  conditions for pioneering unfolding research.

Rendering of Heathcock Hall

The major research focus areas, all of which are linked by the vision of a sustainable future, include decarbonization and clean energy, drug discovery for disease, and the creation of advanced materials.

Rendering of Heathcock Hall

Heathcock Hall will enable faculty and students at the College of Chemistry to drive Berkeley’s pre-eminence in research and education to new heights—conducting sustained breakthrough research in their respective areas, reinventing the direction of their fields, creating altogether new fields, and solving societal-scale problems.