From left to right: Catherine J. Murphy, Venetria K. Patton, Michael Garst, Sandra Beak, Charles L. Isbell Jr., and Paul Kenis prepare to cut the ribbon, officially opening the Peter Beak Advanced Synthesis Laboratory.
A fully renovated instructional chemistry facility in Noyes Laboratory has been officially dedicated as the Peter Beak Advanced Synthesis Laboratory, honoring the legacy of long-time chemistry professor Peter A. Beak.
Family, friends, former colleagues, and university leaders gathered on September 29, 2025, for a ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrating the opening of the modernized second-floor lab. The event included remarks from special guests, including Beak’s wife, Sandra Beak. New signage at the lab entrance displays his photograph and a biography highlighting his influence as a scientist, mentor, and educator.
Illinois chemistry alumnus Michael Garst (BS, ‘69) made a gift to the Department of Chemistry in support of the lab renovation project and asked that the newly renovated space be named in memory of his professor and mentor.
“And although I had many tremendous classes and several memorable lecturers, the person who really was my mentor and gave me my professional start was Peter Beak,” Garst said during the ceremony. Inspired by that experience, he pursued a Ph.D. in chemistry and went on to a distinguished career in the chemical sciences.
“Whenever I'd stop and see Peter and talk to him about anything, he would give me great advice,” Garst added. “It’s easy to say Peter is my professional father, without a doubt.”
Mrs. Beak, joined by their daughter Stacey Beatty and granddaughter Keira Beatty, also addressed the audience. She reflected on what her late husband valued most about his work.
“Peter never mentioned his significant contributions to chemistry,” she said. “He always said it was working with my students. The opportunity to work and learn with them and be part of their development was a privilege to him.”
She thanked attendees for honoring her husband’s legacy and expressed excitement for the future research that will take place in the new facility.
A pioneer in physical organic and synthetic organic chemistry, Peter Beak joined the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Department of Chemistry in 1961 and became a full professor in 1970. Over his 48-year career, he mentored countless students and made lasting contributions to the field. He passed away in 2021.
The new Peter Beak Advanced Synthesis Laboratory stands as a tribute to his impact—both as a scientist and as an inspiring mentor to generations of chemists.