[1][2] In September 1904, Tan Jiak Kim led a group of representatives of the Chinese and other non-European communities, and petitioned the Governor of the Straits Settlements, Sir John Anderson, to establish a medical school in Singapore.

The medical library was first housed in the students' reading room within the school, converted from the vacant old female psychiatric hospital in Sepoy Lines.

In 1912, the medical school received a donation of $120,000 from the King Edward VII Memorial Fund, started by Dr Lim Boon Keng.

On 15 February 1926, the College of Medicine Building was officially opened by the Governor, Sir Laurence Nunns Guillemard.

[2] The work of Tan Jiak Kim for setting up Singapore's first medical school is remembered on two historical plaques on the side pillars of the main entrance to the building.

The original structure of Tan Teck Guan Building consisted mainly of timber trusses, floors and joists, sitting directly on brick.

The internal granite staircase and balustrade were retained, but two brick walls were removed to allow greater flexibility for office space usage.