Building on its century‑long legacy of scientific innovation, Carnegie Mellon University’s Department of Chemistry epitomizes Andrew Carnegie’s vision for practical, accessible education and the Mellon family’s commitment to advancing applied scientific research.

The Department of Chemistry stands on more than a century of scientific achievement shaped by two pioneering institutions: the Carnegie Institute of Technology (founded in 1900) and the Mellon Institute of Industrial Research (founded in 1913). These two entities merged in 1967 to form Carnegie Mellon University, and before and after the merger the Mellon Institute building — a National Historic Chemical Landmark — has been known for pioneering applied research, training hundreds of industrial research fellows, and fueling innovations that shaped global industry, from early materials companies such as Visking, Plaskon and Dow‑Corning to the development of the first World War I gas mask.

In 2027, this legacy will expand westward with the opening of the Richard King Mellon Hall of Sciences, a 278,000–338,900‑square‑foot, LEED Gold‑targeted facility designed to foster cross‑disciplinary collaboration among the Mellon College of Science, the School of Computer Science, and the Institute for Contemporary Art Pittsburgh.

Serving as a new gateway at Forbes Avenue and South Craig Street, the hall will feature state‑of‑the‑art wet and dry laboratories, teaching and collaboration spaces, and a public plaza — creating a dynamic scientific hub that extends the department’s tradition of transformative discovery into a new era of data‑driven, interdisciplinary research and community connection.