原名思颜堂，为纪念为圣约翰大学作出贡献的颜永京而得名。因在校舍中排列第40位，故称40号楼。1913年，时任中华民国第一任临时大总统孙中山先生应邀出席圣约翰大学学期结束仪式，并在此处发表演讲。
这座楼名为40号楼，原名思颜堂，于1903年12月24日奠定隅石，1904年10月1日举行落成典礼。“思颜”这个名字是为了纪念为圣约翰大学做出贡献的颜永京，颜氏也被称为将西方心理学介绍到中国的第一人。
Building No. 40 was originally named “the Yen Hall”. The cornerstone was laid on December 24, 1903 and the inauguration ceremony was held on October 1, 1904. The name “Yen” was to commemorate Yen Yung-kiung who made great contributions to St. John’s University. He was referred to as the first person to introduce western psychology to China.
建筑为三层砖木结构，整体式样中西结合，立面清水青砖，墙外廊配以红砖拱券，屋面沿袭怀施堂的中式坡屋顶。
The building is a three-storey brick-and-timber in a hybrid Chinese and western styles. The facades were dry walls of green bricks, the verandas outside the wall were built of red bricks and arches, and it inherits the Chinese-style slope roof of the Schereschewsky Hall.
1913年2月1日，圣约翰大学举行学期结束仪式，时任中华民国第一任临时大总统孙中山先生应邀出席，并于大会堂发表演讲。中山先生登上讲台时，师生历久欢呼，他告诫青年们：“今且言责任，圣经中云，已见光明，应为人导。既有知识，必当授人。民主国家，教育为本。人民爱学，无不乐承，先觉觉后。责无旁贷，以若所得，教若国人，幸勿自秘其光。”孙中山在演讲中认真论述了科学教育的重要性，激励学校师生为教育事业而不懈努力。40号楼前设有“孙中山演讲处”的碑文，以示纪念。
On February 1, 1913, St. John’s University held the closing ceremony of the semester. Sun Yat-sen, then the first provisional president of the Republic of China, was invited to deliver a speech in the auditorium. After ascending to the rostrum, Sun Yat-sen was welcomed by prolonged cheers from the faculty and students. He admonished the young people, “Now that we are talking about responsibilities, it is written in the Bible that those who have seen the light should guide other people. He who has knowledge must pass it on. In a democratic country, education is the foundation. People are eager to learn and they are all cheerful about it. Those who first come to an awareness should enlighten the others. The responsibility must be taken to teach the people with what they have acquired; be cautious not to withhold the light of wisdom to oneself.” In his speech, Sun Yat-sen deliberated the importance of science education and inspired teachers and students to make unremitting efforts for the cause of education. In front of the Building No. 40, there is an inscription of “Sun Yat-sen’s Lecture Site” to commemorate the occasion.
