The building was designed by Percy Edgar Everett,[1] who at the time was employed by the Victorian Public Works Department.

Its most notable features, which are stylistic of the inter-war period, are the cream brickwork, bold massing and highly detailed tower decoration.

[3] During the 1930s when the building was constructed, Melbourne University placed a lot of importance on the opinions of experts such as chemists.

[4] The Masson Theatre in the chemistry school has a heritage listing despite losing its impressive two-storey high rolling blackboards and theatre-wide front rostrum in the late 1980s.

[5] It has undergone a recent renovation addressing safety concerns but preserving the remaining character.