With its history dating back to Darülfünun-i Osmanî (the first Ottoman higher education institution with a modern curriculum), Istanbul University Faculty of Science started its academic operation initially in the Zeynep Hanım Mansion, which completely burned down in a fire in 1942. Education continued in the Faculty of Sciences and Letters building which was built by (distinguished) architects Emin Onat and Sedat Hakkı Eldem.

The Faculty of Science had been another location for resistance against the Grey Wolves attacks, starting from 1968, and between 1975 and 1980 revolutionary students were actively engaged in this resistance.