A ROOF-GARDEN LABORATORY WALLACE A. GILKEY Sacramento Junior
College, Sacramento. California
T
HE NEW "roof garden" a t the Sacramento Junior College is a t the same time so unusual and so satisfactory a solution of the problems which confronted us that we believe a brief account of it may be of interest to others. This new chemistry laboratory is completely out of doors, having been built on a roof a t very low cost. The four chemistry laboratories, three for first-year chemistry and one for organic chemistry and quantitative analysis, occupy the second floor of the north wing of the main building. Part of the ground floor of this wing is but one story high, leaving a large, almost flat, asphalt composition roof, 24 X 80 feet and about twb feet above the second-story floor level. This flat roof is surrounded on two sides by a parapet about three feet high, above which the tops of several trees are beginning to grow. Each successive year the problem of accommodating the increasing number of students has become more difficult. Three years ago, the third laboratory for freshmen was provided by removing a partition between two offices and installmg the necessary equipment. In the past fall semester, some four hundred students were enrolled in chemistry laboratory classes. The crowding of two freshmen to a locker is a common necessity. The task of caring for laboratory sections of forty students in a laboratory originally planned for twenty has been made less difficult by the building of the "roof garden." A floor was laid over the asphalt roof by bridging across with 2'' X 12" floor joists 16" apart, and nailing on 1" X 4' planed sheeting with open cracks so that rain may pass through to t h e asphalt roof. A single long table, 3 feet wide and 60 feet long, was constructed and painted with black, acid-proof paint. There is room for the addition of a second, similar table when needed. A smaller table, as far away from the laboratories as possible, is used for hydrogen sulfide. The long table is provided with gas and water and with a drain for use with condensers. To keep down the cost, no sinks were installed. The drain is a 2" galvanized iron pipe, with sufficient slope, suspended under the center of the long table. One-inch nipples are screwed into this pipe and extend upward some four inches above the table top. Corks, with small signs, "For Water Only," are placed in the drain openings when not in use for condensers. Should the drain pipe eventually become badly corroded, i t may be replaced a t very low cost as compared with regular plumbing. A door was cut through a brick wall and two windows were converted into doors so that the roof garden is readily accessible from each of the four laboratories. To give
Two Vmws
0 s THE ROOF-OARDEN LADORATORY
color, the water baths (l.ga1. tin cans are quite satisfactory) and the gas outlet'are painted a bright Chinese red. Ring-stands, water outlets, and some other equipment, are painted with bright green enamel. Shields are provided for use with Bunsen burners when the wind blows. "But what will you do in the winter time?" may be asked. Well, when it rains, occasionally, we simply crowd into the laboratories and are no worse off than we were before. The temperature never falls below freezing for long a t a time. We may have to drain the water pipes for a few cold nights hut that is provided for. Most of the time the weather is delightful and many students prefer to work outside. All experiments involving fumes or odors are performed on the roof. No hoods or fans were provided when the laboratories were built but now we do not need them. The total cost of our roof garden-floor, tables, doors, plumbing, stairs, and labor-was only $529. Needless to say our 400 chemistry students are well pleased with the improvement. We feel that we have spent our limited allowance wisely and well.
