Senate House (University of Madras)
Encyclopedia
The Senate House is the administrative centre of the University of Madras
in Chennai
, India
. It is situated in Wallajah Road, along Marina Beach
. Constructed by Robert Chisholm
between 1874 and 1879, the Senate building is considered to be one of the best and oldest examples of Indo-Saracenic
architecture in India.
architecture. Initially designing buildings using the Renaissance and Gothic
styles of architecture, Chisholm switched over to Indo-Saracenic with the construction of the PWD buildings of the Chepauk Palace
in 1871.
In 1864, the Madras government gave an advertisement inviting designs for the Senate House building. Chisholm's design was eventually approved and the building was constructed between April 1874 and 1879.A saluting battery was present at the site prior to the construction of the Senate House.Prior to the construction of the Senate House, university convocations were held at Banqueting Hall (now Rajaji Hall). During July 14-December 21, 1937 the legislature
of the Madras Presidency
met at the senate house.
University of Madras
The University of Madras is a public research university in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. It is one of the three oldest universities in India...
in Chennai
Chennai
Chennai , formerly known as Madras or Madarasapatinam , is the capital city of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, located on the Coromandel Coast off the Bay of Bengal. Chennai is the fourth most populous metropolitan area and the sixth most populous city in India...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. It is situated in Wallajah Road, along Marina Beach
Marina Beach
Marina Beach is a beach in the city of Chennai , India, along the Bay of Bengal, part of the Indian Ocean. The beach runs from near Fort St. George in the north to Besant Nagar in the south, a distance of , making it the longest urban beach in the country and the world's second longest...
. Constructed by Robert Chisholm
Robert Chisholm (architect)
Robert Fellowes Chisholm was a British architect who pioneered the Indo-Saracenic style of architecture in Madras.- Early life :Chisholm was born in London on January 11, 1840 and had his early education in the United Kingdom...
between 1874 and 1879, the Senate building is considered to be one of the best and oldest examples of Indo-Saracenic
Indo-Saracenic
The Indo-Saracenic Revival was an architectural style movement by British architects in the late 19th century in British India...
architecture in India.
History
Robert Chisholm was a 19th century British architect who is considered to be one of the pioneers of Indo-SaracenicIndo-Saracenic
The Indo-Saracenic Revival was an architectural style movement by British architects in the late 19th century in British India...
architecture. Initially designing buildings using the Renaissance and Gothic
Gothic architecture
Gothic architecture is a style of architecture that flourished during the high and late medieval period. It evolved from Romanesque architecture and was succeeded by Renaissance architecture....
styles of architecture, Chisholm switched over to Indo-Saracenic with the construction of the PWD buildings of the Chepauk Palace
Chepauk Palace
Chepauk Palace was the official residence of the Nawab of Arcot from 1768 to 1855. It is situated in the neighbourhood of Chepauk in Chennai, India and is constructed in the Indo-Saracenic style of architecture.- History :...
in 1871.
In 1864, the Madras government gave an advertisement inviting designs for the Senate House building. Chisholm's design was eventually approved and the building was constructed between April 1874 and 1879.A saluting battery was present at the site prior to the construction of the Senate House.Prior to the construction of the Senate House, university convocations were held at Banqueting Hall (now Rajaji Hall). During July 14-December 21, 1937 the legislature
Madras Legislative Council
Tamil Nadu Legislative Council is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It began its existence as Madras Legislative Council, the first provincial legislature for Madras Presidency. It was initially created as an advisory body in 1861, by the British...
of the Madras Presidency
Madras Presidency
The Madras Presidency , officially the Presidency of Fort St. George and also known as Madras Province, was an administrative subdivision of British India...
met at the senate house.