The London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine on Keppel Street is one of the most impressive research buildings in town. If you’re ever offered the chance to look inside, take it. The art deco elegance of the original 1920’s building has been tastefully matched with a modern atrium and theatre complex. The library, at the front of the building, has changed little in eight decades – and still includes Swastika-like ironmongery.

But even from the outside, there’s plenty to see. LSHTM was one of the first steel-framed buildings in London, started in 1926 by architect Vernor Rees. The most striking features are the golden representations of animals that adorn the window balconies. Each one is a disease vector, such as the mosquito and flea.

The top of the building sports the names of 23 eminent names in the field of public health. Why these particular 23 were chosen is now lost to history. They include familiar names such as Edward Jenner and Louis Pasteur, but also many characters who would now be obscure outside of the field.

Now, I hope you noticed the gender bias in the title. The names decorating the frieze do not include any women, a reflection of the underappreciation and still-limited options for females in medicine at the time. As noted in the official guide to the frieze

“The only female name on the short list was that of Florence Nightingale, who was excluded because her surname of eleven letters was too long for inclusion. However room was found for the name of Max von Pettenkofer (count the letters!) who denied that cholera was a water-borne disease!.”

Today, the School is much more diverse, welcoming postgraduate students (of both gender) from around 120 countries. As part of the University of London, it is one of the highest rated research facilities in the country. Despite its eminance, LSHTM still has the sense of humour to participate in the Golden Poo Awards for excellence in promoting public hygiene.

You can read more about the 23 individuals commemorated on the building here. Previous installments of this series are here.