UCL Main Building
Encyclopedia
The Main Building at University College London
, includes the Octagon, Quad, Cloisters, Main Library, Flaxman Gallery and the Wilkins
building. The North Wing, South Wing, Chadwick Building and Pearson Building are also considered part of the main UCL building (see map for orientation).
, who also designed the National Gallery. The original plans by Wilkins called for a U shaped enclosure around the Quad (square). These plans however were not completed until the 20th century. The Main Building was finally finished in 1985, 158 years since the foundations were laid, with a formal opening ceremony by Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom
.
casts-collection and a mural depicting the construction of UCL in a mythical scene with Jeremy Bentham
overlooking the plans.
observatories.
.
. It does not include the later, U shaped extensions around the quad. Although these were designed by Wilkins they were not finished until 1985. Therefore the Wilkins building refers to the oldest sections of the main building: the center part of the main building which includes the UCL main library, the dome, the flaxman gallery and the cloisters.The Wilkins building is grade I listed.
and humanities
, history
, economics
, public policy and law
. The Flaxman Gallery, a collection of sculptures and paintings by artist John Flaxman
is located inside the 'main library' in the Octagon building under UCL's central dome.
University College London
University College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and the oldest and largest constituent college of the federal University of London...
, includes the Octagon, Quad, Cloisters, Main Library, Flaxman Gallery and the Wilkins
William Wilkins (architect)
William Wilkins RA was an English architect, classical scholar and archaeologist. He designed the National Gallery and University College in London, and buildings for several Cambridge colleges.-Life:...
building. The North Wing, South Wing, Chadwick Building and Pearson Building are also considered part of the main UCL building (see map for orientation).
History
In 1827, a year after the founding of UCL, construction of the Main Building began on the site of the old Carmarthen Square. The Octagon Building is a term used for the whole of the Main Building, but more appropriately for a central part of it. At the centrepiece of the building is an ornate dome, which is visible throughout the immediate area. The Octagon was designed by the Architect William WilkinsWilliam Wilkins (architect)
William Wilkins RA was an English architect, classical scholar and archaeologist. He designed the National Gallery and University College in London, and buildings for several Cambridge colleges.-Life:...
, who also designed the National Gallery. The original plans by Wilkins called for a U shaped enclosure around the Quad (square). These plans however were not completed until the 20th century. The Main Building was finally finished in 1985, 158 years since the foundations were laid, with a formal opening ceremony by Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom
Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom
Elizabeth II is the constitutional monarch of 16 sovereign states known as the Commonwealth realms: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Belize,...
.
Octagon
The Octagon Building is a term used for the whole of the Main Building, but more appropriately for a central part of it. The Octagon dome houses the central hall of the University Main Library, which contains casts from the John FlaxmanJohn Flaxman
John Flaxman was an English sculptor and draughtsman.-Early life:He was born in York. His father was also named John, after an ancestor who, according to family tradition, had fought for Parliament at the Battle of Naseby, and afterwards settled as a carrier or farmer in Buckinghamshire...
casts-collection and a mural depicting the construction of UCL in a mythical scene with Jeremy Bentham
Jeremy Bentham
Jeremy Bentham was an English jurist, philosopher, and legal and social reformer. He became a leading theorist in Anglo-American philosophy of law, and a political radical whose ideas influenced the development of welfarism...
overlooking the plans.
Quad
Facing Gower Street, the quadrangle, abbrievated as the 'Quad' is an enclosed square of paths, grass and a few disabled car parking bays. There are a large number of benches as well as two decommissioned astronomyAstronomy
Astronomy is a natural science that deals with the study of celestial objects and phenomena that originate outside the atmosphere of Earth...
observatories.
Cloisters
The enclosed north and south cloisters connect the Octagon dome to the north and south wings of the quad respectively. They are one of the main thoroughfares of the College, and accommodate a series of exhibitions and events throughout the year (for example shows from students of the Slade school of art and from the UCL special collections). To the north of the north cloisters is the Housman Room, which is a staff common room. To the south of the south cloisters is the auto-icon of Jeremy BenthamJeremy Bentham
Jeremy Bentham was an English jurist, philosopher, and legal and social reformer. He became a leading theorist in Anglo-American philosophy of law, and a political radical whose ideas influenced the development of welfarism...
.
The Wilkins Building
The Wilkins building refers specifically to the part of the building built during the lifetime of the architect William WilkinsWilliam Wilkins (architect)
William Wilkins RA was an English architect, classical scholar and archaeologist. He designed the National Gallery and University College in London, and buildings for several Cambridge colleges.-Life:...
. It does not include the later, U shaped extensions around the quad. Although these were designed by Wilkins they were not finished until 1985. Therefore the Wilkins building refers to the oldest sections of the main building: the center part of the main building which includes the UCL main library, the dome, the flaxman gallery and the cloisters.The Wilkins building is grade I listed.
The Main Library
The 'Main library' contains UCL's collections relating to artsARts
aRts, which stands for analog Real time synthesizer, is an audio framework that is no longer under development. It is best known for previously being used in KDE to simulate an analog synthesizer....
and humanities
Humanities
The humanities are academic disciplines that study the human condition, using methods that are primarily analytical, critical, or speculative, as distinguished from the mainly empirical approaches of the natural sciences....
, history
History
History is the discovery, collection, organization, and presentation of information about past events. History can also mean the period of time after writing was invented. Scholars who write about history are called historians...
, economics
Economics
Economics is the social science that analyzes the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. The term economics comes from the Ancient Greek from + , hence "rules of the house"...
, public policy and law
Law
Law is a system of rules and guidelines which are enforced through social institutions to govern behavior, wherever possible. It shapes politics, economics and society in numerous ways and serves as a social mediator of relations between people. Contract law regulates everything from buying a bus...
. The Flaxman Gallery, a collection of sculptures and paintings by artist John Flaxman
John Flaxman
John Flaxman was an English sculptor and draughtsman.-Early life:He was born in York. His father was also named John, after an ancestor who, according to family tradition, had fought for Parliament at the Battle of Naseby, and afterwards settled as a carrier or farmer in Buckinghamshire...
is located inside the 'main library' in the Octagon building under UCL's central dome.