[9] In 1942, Oppenheimer was appointed head of the fast neutron research group, and in the summer of that year, he invited the leading physicists of the time to discuss the theoretical aspects of developing an atomic weapon.

The physicists and Oppenheimer's students, including Hans Bethe, John Van Vleck, Felix Bloch, and others, worked in the top floor of LeConte Hall and spent a month analyzing data.

[1][11][12] In 2006, the UC Berkeley campus completed a US$30.7 million renovation project, designed to update the LeConte Hall facilities as well as to provide seismic retrofitting.

Completed in 1923/24, its reinforced concrete frame supports a rectangular form crowned by a hipped red-tile roof, embellished with a striking copper and glass skylight.

Neoclassical adornments such as modified Ionic columns, pediments, and gables grace its exterior, while stucco surfacing adds to its timeless elegance.

Within its walls, LeConte Hall houses a functional layout, with mechanical and shop spaces occupying the basement, and classrooms, offices, laboratories, and ancillary areas spanning the upper floors.

While these alterations have affected the rear western elevation due to connections with adjacent structures, the principal eastern façade and the north and south ends of the building have remained unchanged.

Notably, when viewed from the south, east, and north perspectives, LeConte Hall retains its original appearance, closely resembling historical photographs and architectural plans from its construction era.