The rebuilding of the Gray Herbarium, which has been in progress for about five years, will soon be completed. But one section of the old building, the large central portion, remains in its original form. Through generous gifts from several patrons, funds are now available for the reconstruction of this section. The work on the Herbarium has consisted of remodeling and considerably enlarging the previous structure along the lines of modern fire-proof construction. Dr. Asa Gray bequeathed his valuable collection of botanical specimens on the condition that it be kept in a building free from danger of fire.

In the new structure no exposed wood has been used. The floors are of concrete, the cases are of steel, and even tables and desks are of incombustible materials. The remaining section, including the central room of the older structure, will be raised to three stories, a basement, the ground floor, and two galleries, surrounded by steel herbarium cases, and illuminated by an overhead skylight designed to give an even distribution of light.

The present structure has been built to allow for future additions; which explains its unsymmetrical exterior. It includes the Harvard and Radcliffe laboratories of botany, a large library, the main herbarium, a student collection, the herbarium of the New England Botanical Club, a collection of fruits and nuts, as well as several special collections.