The F. W. Olin Foundation, Inc., of New York gave over $3.5 million to Wake Forest University for the construction of a physics building.

The 31,375 square foot building has one of the most advanced ultra-fast spectroscopy laser laboratories in the country.  One feature of the laboratory is a laser beam distribution system that provides various types of laser beams to teaching and research laboratories throughout the building: DLT, Laser, Physical Optics, ESR, Materials Science, Electronics, Condensed Matter, Advanced and Modern, and Molecular.

The building has three-tiered lecture rooms, a large entry reception area, classrooms, a computer room, machine shop, student study spaces and offices for faculty and staff.   

The Wake Forest grant is the first grant made by the foundation in North Carolina.  It is one of two new building grants made by the foundation in 1987 from among 73 colleges and universities that applied.