Moscow State University

M.V. Lomonosov Moscow State University (Russian: ?????????? ??????????????? ??????????? ????? ?.?.??????????, often abbreviated ???, MSU, MGU) is the largest and oldest university in Russia, founded in 1755. As of 2004, the university has some 4,000 staff teaching 31,000 students and 7,000 postgraduates.

Main building

Since 1953 the main departments are situated on Sparrow Hills. It was designed by architect Lev Vladimirovich Rudnev. In the post-war era, Stalin ordered seven huge tiered neoclassic towers built around the city. The MSU main building was by far the largest. It was also the tallest building in Europe at that time. The central tower being 240m and 36-stories high, was flanked by four huge wings of student and faculty accommodations. It is said to contain a total of 33 kilometers of corridors and 5000 rooms. The star on the top is large enough to provide a small room and a viewing platform; it weighs 12 tons. The building's facades are ornamented with giant clocks, barometers, and thermometers, statues, carved wheat sheaves and Soviet crests. It stands before a terrace featuring statues of male and female students gazing optimistically and confidently into the future.

Related Topics:
Sparrow Hills - Architect - Lev Vladimirovich Rudnev - Stalin - Seven huge tiered neoclassic towers

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