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MOSCOW STATE UNIVERSITY

There are skyscrapers in Moscow and one of them is the home of the renowned university of Russia. It is situated on Sparrow Hills. The edifice on Sparrow Hills appeared in the middle of the 20^th century, but the University itself has a long history.

In 1793 Matvei Kazakov, the well-known Moscow architect, created the building for the first Russian University founded by Mikhail Vasiljevich Lomonosov, the great Russian scientist.

The University founded in 1755 was the first European university which didn’t have a theological faculty. At first it had three faculties — philosophy, medicine and law with ten chairs. Later new chairs and faculties were organized including the first chair of agronomical sciences in the world. The University together with its remarkable library was burned down in 1812 but after the war was over architect Gilardi restored the old building to the state in which we see it now. The University grew and the so-called «new» building was erected in the 19^th century. It stands next to the older building. The new building was constructed by architect Tyurin in 1836 and a monument to Mikhail Lomonosov, the founder of the University, was placed in front of it.

The other buildings of the University went up behind the first two. However, they, too, proved inadequate to house the rapidly growing faculties. Therefore, the main 36-storeyed building and the complex of buildings for natural sciences faculties, students’ hostels and teachers’ flats were all built in Lenin Hills in the early 1950s. Lenin Hills were later returned their original name Vorobjovy Hills (Sparrow Hills).

The main University building is unique and of special interest. After the World War II the government decided to offer the building site on Vorobjovy Hills to Moscow State University because its only building in Mohovaya Street, could not house all its faculties. The work was given to Lev Rudnev who by that time had already built a considerable number of edifices.

According to the decree, MSU was offered a generous grant of 165 hectares, four times the area given to the Vatican. The task the architect had to cope with was not so simple. Rudnev was supposed to create a building for lecture halls, dormitory rooms, a concert hall, cafeterias, a swimming pool, as well as flats for the most distinguished professors.

Soon it became clear that it would be impossible to house all these faculties in a single building, and Rudnev managed to persuade the government to permit him to build two adjacent 10-storeyed buildings. The faculties of Philology, History, Philosophy, and Law are in the Humanities Building, and the other similar building houses the faculties of Economy and Information Science. It is interesting to note that work on foundation started in 1949 and in 1953 the University was officially opened on September 1.

The departments and faculties, libraries, assembly halls, museums are all located in the central tall structure. The teachers’ apartments and students’ rooms are in the wings. The University campus is a large students’ town in itself with its own shops, all kinds of services, several gymnasia and swimming facilities.

You can visit several museums in the main building of the University, attend different concerts and, of course, eat in the famous professorskaya stolovaya. In the center of the building, just under the stolovaya, lifts will transport you to higher floors. It is interesting to visit the 24-28^th floors, where the museum of soil science is situated. There you will see scientific trinkets, like a 40-kilogram meteorite for example, and will get a bird’s eye view of Moscow.

Strange as it may seem but the building of MSU has its twin in Poland, more precisely in Warsaw. It was a gift of the Soviet government to the Polish people in 1954. However the Poles, in contrast with Muscovites, do not like the building at all.

Apart from the history of construction of MSU a special mention should be made of its origin. The foundation of Moscow University was inspired by the radical philosophical and political views of Mikhail Lomonosov (1711—1765). The University was established by the order of Elizabeth I, the Russian Emperess. In the late 18^th century Moscow University became the center of advanced Russian science and social thought. The University gave the world a lot of outstanding personalities. Among its graduates were Lermontov, Pirogov, Sechenov, Timiryazev and many others.

Moscow State University ranks among the top universities of the world. It is known world-wide for its academic excellence. Moscow State University (Moscow Lomonosov University), the largest educational institution in Russia teaches almost in all subject areas: Arts, Sciences, Law, Engineering, etc. The staff are knowledgeable in their subject areas. The top research institutions of Moscow State University enable to keep research and teaching up-to-date. Here students can learn skills which fit them for a better career. The reputation of the University stays with its graduates — and their achievements in turn add to that reputation.

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