UCL Main Building

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The Main Building of University College London, including the Octagon, Quad, Cloisters and the Wilkins building.

It was designed over several centuries and its centrepiece, an ornate dome, is visible throughout the immediate area. The Main Building comprises the Wilkins building and the North and South Cloisters. The Octagon was designed by the Architect William Wilkins, who also designed the National Gallery. The Main Building however was not finally finished until 1985 with a formal opening ceremony by Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom.

1 Octagon
2 Quad
3 Cloisters
4 The Wilkins building
5 The Main Library

[edit] Octagon

The Octagon Building is a term used for the whole of the Main Building, but more appropriately for a central part of it. It was designed over several centuries and its centrepiece, an ornate dome, is visible throughout the immediate area.

The Octagon was designed by the Architect William Wilkins, who also designed the National Gallery. The Main Building however was not finally finished until 1985 with a formal opening ceremony by Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom.

The Octagon dome houses the central hall of the University Main Library, which contains casts from the John Flaxman casts-collection and a mural depicting the construction of UCL in a mythical scene with Jeremy Bentham overlooking the plans.

[edit] Quad

[edit] Cloisters

North Cloisters, UCL (1980s)

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 thoroughfairs of the University, and accommodate a series of exhibitions and events throughout the year (for example shows from that Slade school. 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 Bentham.