The Roger Adams Laboratory is a modern research facility located east of Noyes Laboratory and the Chemical Annex on South Matthews Avenue.
The building houses the administrative offices of the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, research laboratory spaces, faculty offices, and leading-edge equipment and resources for chemical research, including the EPR Laboratory, Machine Shop, NMR Laboratory, Cell Media Facility, and the Storeroom.
The Roger Adams Laboratory was constructed between 1948 and 1951. Originally called the East Annex, it was later renamed the Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Building, and in 1972, it was renamed in honor of Roger Adams.
Roger Adams: 'The Chief'
The building's namesake, Roger Adams, joined the University of Illinois as an Assistant Professor in 1916. He later served as head of the Department of Chemistry from 1926 to 1954, remaining active at the university until he died in 1971.
During his time at the University, Adams and his students discovered myriad methods of organic synthesis and natural products, and he was instrumental in bridging academia and industry.
He served as a personal research director for 198 Illinois PhD recipients and many more postdoctoral research associates and fellows. Many of his students would go on to leading roles in the academics and industry.
Adams received numerous awards for science, philanthropy, national service, and the arts throughout his life, including ten honorary degrees, twenty-four medals, awards from American and foreign scientific societies, and honorary membership in nine chemical societies.
Sources:
Wikipedia
UI Histories Project
Department of Chemistry Roger Adams Bio
The American Chemical Society