The Editorial Offices of the IUCr expanded in late 1996 to include an additional building, No. 6 Abbey Square, to accommodate the increased staff resulting from expansion of the Union's journals and electronic publishing projects. On Monday 7 April 1997, the 50th anniversary of the admission of the IUCr to the International Council of Scientific Unions, the new building was officially opened by Dr Robert Evans, the first General Secretary of the IUCr.