Old Medical Building -- McGill Archives

In 1872, McGill erected a building just east of the Arts Building for the Faculty of Medicine. It had a neo-Classical facade and was built of Montreal limestone and so blended very well with the rest of the campus. To accomodate the Faculty of Medicine's growing enrolment and needs, the Medical Building was expanded in 1885, 1894, and 1900, creating, in the end, a long structure of many sections. On April 16, 1907, fire broke out in the Medical Building and all but the 1894 extension was destroyed including many valuable papers and records. Fortunately, Lord Strathcona, always a friend to the University in times of need, immediately offered to erect a new structure on a new site for the homeless faculty. This edifice, named the Strathcona Medical Building, still graces the campus today.

McGill's Department of Biology had outgrown its quarters in the 1920s and so, in 1922, McGill commissioned the firm of Ross and Macdonald to erect a new Biology Building on the site of the Old Medical Building, which had burned. The new Montreal limestone building was more functional than ornamental, but the McGill crest placed over the main entrance was capped by a frog to signify the purpose of the structure. To the west of the Biology Building a small brick structure was constructed to serve as the animal house; a conservatory was erected to the north.

In 1965, the Department of Biology required more modern labs and facilities and still more space. McGill responded to this need by building the Stewart Biological Sciences Building on Dr. Penfield Avenue. Shortly after this, Old Biology Building was renovated to become the present James Administration Building, named after F. Cyril James, one of McGill's principals. It now houses the Department of Physical Resources and the offices of the principal, vice-principal, registrar, and cashier. The animal house has been converted into the Department of Admissions, and the conservatory has been dismantled.