[4][5] The Mechanical lab was stocked with around $3000 of modern machinery and tools, but it quickly began to fail the needs of the students.

$35,000 from Amos Heavilon was secured to erect the long desired Mechanical Engineering Building.

The Mechanical Engineering Building, often referred to as the first of three Heavilon Halls, was dedicated and accepted by governor Claude Matthews on January 19, 1894.

[6] This was greatly celebrated, as the Purdue Exponent proclaimed: "The new Engineering Laboratories, which we have needed for so long, are at last completed.

"[4] Four days later, a gas explosion started a fire in boiler room, and a thousand people watched as new building was destroyed.

[4][6] President Smart later wrote: Heavilon Hall had been beautiful four days before: it was infinitely more beautiful now, but the crowds this time were speechless with grief and in a few hours only a pitiful mass of blackened ruins remained to mark the spot where Purdue’s greatest pride once stood.

I tell you young men, that tower shall go up one brick higher.”[7][4] The University asked for help to fund the new building and its equipment and 52 companies responded.