Twelve Colleges building

building, Saint Petersburg, Russia

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July 14, 2026

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The Twelve Colleges building is a significant architectural complex located on Vasilyevsky Island in Saint Petersburg, Russia. Originally constructed between 1722 and 1742, it was intended to house Peter the Great's supreme governmental bodies. The building is characterized by its twelve identical, independent sections arranged perpendicular to the Neva River embankment.12

Today, the Twelve Colleges building serves as the main campus for Saint Petersburg State University, which was established by a decree from Peter I in 1724. The building is situated near other notable structures, including the Academy of Sciences and the Menshikov Palace.12

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St. Petersburg
Vasilyevsky Island
Farther back, the Twelve Colleges building (Trezzini, 1722–42), originally intended to house the supreme governmental bodies of Peter, is now the home of the city’s state university. The building is divided into 12 identical but independent sections and runs at right angles to the Neva embankment, which is…
Read More
Farther back, the Twelve Colleges building (Trezzini, 1722–42), originally intended to house the supreme governmental bodies of Peter, is now the home of the city’s state university. The building is divided into 12 identical but independent sections and runs at right angles to the Neva embankment, which is…
Read More