ChemCentre, heritage listed building in Perth, Western Australia
The ChemCentre is a research and testing facility in Perth that specialized in analytical chemistry. The building was constructed in 1952 and displays characteristic features of the Modernist movement with brick facades, horizontal windows, and tall chimneys for chemical processes.
The site emerged in 1940 following relocation from a smaller laboratory in Fremantle, as the old location suffered from vibrations and lack of space. The new facility officially opened in 1944 and served as the main government analytical laboratory until 2009.
The chemistry laboratory reflects the Functionalist architectural style, emphasizing practical spaces and simple forms. Dutch design principles shape the building's appearance, linking scientific work with modern thinking and progress.
The building is easy to spot on foot, with its distinctive brick facades and horizontal windows at the corner of Plain and Hay Streets in Perth's city center. Visitors should know that the site no longer operates as an active laboratory but stands as a monument to the region's scientific history.
The building was deliberately constructed on stable ground after seismic tests confirmed that the site was free from vibrations. This attention to ground quality was crucial, as even slight tremors would have compromised the precise chemical work.
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