The Physical and Chemical Building of Jilin University

The Physical and Chemical Building of Jilin University

The Physical and Chemical Building of Jilin University is a cultural heritage site protected at the provincial level in Jilin Province.

Adjacent to the Manchukuo Coal Mining Company, the Physical and Chemical Building of Jilin University's Chaoyang Campus was built in the 1960s. It is a large-scale building with a high level of design, featuring a reinforced concrete structure. The architecture is simple in form, with symmetrical facades that give an overall impression of solemnity. Only the cornice features minimal decoration, and beneath it are elements imitating traditional bracket sets (dougong). This building is known as one of the “Top Ten Buildings” of Changchun from the early years of the founding of the People’s Republic of China, embodying the urban construction achievements of that period. Due to its solid construction quality, the building is still in normal use today as a teaching facility.

Located at the junction of Tongzhi Street and the city’s main east-west axis, Jiefang Avenue, this building is the largest teaching complex in Changchun, designed by the Design Office of the Changchun Construction Bureau and constructed by the Provincial Construction Company No. 1. Completed in August 1964, it has a total floor area of 43,000 square meters, with a main structure of six floors and partial sections extending to nine floors, all built with a reinforced concrete structure. The layout is symmetrical, and the main entrance is prominent, sturdy, and majestic. The building facade is simply designed, with shallow relief decorations featuring traditional patterns beneath the cornice and in certain sections, reflecting a simple and traditional ethnic architectural style. However, the proportion of the building’s height to width, as well as the division of window and door openings, differs from that of traditional ethnic architecture. Notably, the top section along the central axis incorporates a double-curved shell structure, showcasing the architectural technology of the time. As such, this large-scale teaching building is considered one of the more influential structures in the province from the 1960s.