UNAM: THE CENTRAL UNIVERSITY CAMPUS
(CIUDAD UNIVERSITARIA’S CENTRAL CAMPUS)
Do you study at Ciudad Universitaria (University City) of the UNAM? It is supposed you know the History of that amazing place where you are studying or working, or furthermore, because you are Mexican. Don’t you? Well, it doesn’t matter; you are on time to read a little about Ciudad Universitaria of UNAM, the place where you spend the most of your time everyday. Have you ever asked yourself when was your school built? Or maybe who painted the murals you can admire in some of the buildings in Ciudad Universitaria? In this article you will found some basic information that an university student, professor or worker of UNAM should know.
The old university was located since the sixteenth century in the Centro Histórico (Historic Center) of Mexico City, in the same place where later was built the Suprema Corte de Justicia. In Benito Juarez’s time, that seat was closed and the schools were established in some ancient buildings around the Centro Histórico, such as the Escuela Nacional de Medicina (Medicine National School) occupied the old Palacio de la Inquisición (Inquisition Palace), the Escuela de Ingenieros (Engineering School) in the Palacio de Minería (Mining Palace), the ancient Escuela de Jurisprudencia (Law School) in the Santa Teresa la Antigua’s cloister, etc. When Justo Sierra founded the New University, in 1910, where added others seats like the Academia de San Carlos (Saint Charles Academy), in other words the Architecture School, and the Facultad de Altos Estudios (Philosophy and Letters School and Science School). The main idea of Justo Sierra was the “spatial unity” of the University. But it was until the middle of the 1940’s when the University Council argued about the construction of the CU. On December the 31st in 1945, the Congress approved the Law of the Foundation and Construction of CU. In its planning, CU was devised to be of use for 25,000 students, as well as professors and the staff work. However, CU has lost none of its functional character today, even tough now the Cu’s population it is over 150,000.
The Ciudad Universitaria ensemble
The Ciudad Universitaria ensemble was designed by architects Mario Pani and Enrique del Moral. The CU, as most people call it, rises up above a sea of volcanic lava, where the volcano Xitle, today extinct, engulfed 2,400 years ago, and has been instrumental in the major urban growth that Mexico City has known in the second half of the 20th century: since the beginning of its construction, avenues have come into being, others have been enlarged, like the Insurgentes Avenue, one of Mexico City’s most emblematic.
The Central Campus encloses in a main east-west axis and other secondary north-south axis: the Rector Tower in the center; The Central Library, The Philosophy and Letters School, The Law School, The Economy School and The Odontology School in the northeast; The University Olympic Stadium in the west; The Architecture School, The Engineering School, The Chemistry School, The Courts (built with stone like the ancient Mesoamerican pyramids) and Sports Fields in the southeast; The Humanities Tower II (The ancient Science School) and the called “Islas” in the middle; and finally The Medicine School in the East.
The Central Library is the main symbol of UNAM. The author of that beautiful building is a Juan O’Gorman’s work, who was architect and painter. The most important character of the Library is the huge mural that covers its four facades. That is, the building has four murals with these themes: The north wall tells about the Prehispanic Past, the south wall the Colony Past, the east wall the Cotemporaneous World, and finally the west one about the University and Modern Mexico. All the murals are made with multicoloured stones from different regions of the country.
Another symbolic building is the Rector Tower which has three painted murals by a famous Mexican painter, David Alfaro Siqueiros. These murals include the painting, besides the sculpture. Others knowing murals in CU are the one of the Medicine School by Francisco Eppens, the one in the Audience “Alfonso Caso” made by José Chávez Morado and the ones which are located in the Stadium, work by Diego Rivera.
The University Olympic Stadium used for the 1968 Olympic Games and the 1986 FIFA World Cup, resembles a volcano surging out the of the earth. Like other CU buildings, it was constructed with volcanic stone from the Xitle. It was designed by the architect Augusto Pérez Palacios. In addition to Diego Rivera decorated its façade with a high-relief multicoloured mosaic symbolizing the homeland, peace, university and sports.
The Central Campus provides a space for leisure. Its platforms, talus and staircases, and the opened spaces remind the Mesoamerican cities, such as Teotihuacan , Monte Albán, Palenque and many others.
Through the time, many buildings were annexed. For example, the Centro Cultural Universitario which includes the Sala Nezahualcóyotl, Psychology School, Accountancy and Administration School, The new Science School, The Political Sciences School, The CELE (Centro de Enseñanza de Lenguas Extranjeras), The CEPE (Centro de Enseñanza Para Extranjeros), many Institutes, departments and museums like the Universum, the MUCA (Museo de Ciencias y Artes) and the new MUAC (Museo de Arte Contemporáneo).
The CU is a very big successful for The Mexican Plastic Arts owing to its wonderful architecture, sculpture and painting. The architecture of the Ciudad Universitaria is so admirable that all of those who are not students or are part directly of the University identify with it. Despite their mistakes, CU is an extraordinary construction, is an amazing place we have to learn to appraise and preserve.
Now, with this information you know a little more about CU and only if you want you can look for more information in the internet, books or newspapers, it is your decition.
(CIUDAD UNIVERSITARIA’S CENTRAL CAMPUS)
Do you study at Ciudad Universitaria (University City) of the UNAM? It is supposed you know the History of that amazing place where you are studying or working, or furthermore, because you are Mexican. Don’t you? Well, it doesn’t matter; you are on time to read a little about Ciudad Universitaria of UNAM, the place where you spend the most of your time everyday. Have you ever asked yourself when was your school built? Or maybe who painted the murals you can admire in some of the buildings in Ciudad Universitaria? In this article you will found some basic information that an university student, professor or worker of UNAM should know.
The old university was located since the sixteenth century in the Centro Histórico (Historic Center) of Mexico City, in the same place where later was built the Suprema Corte de Justicia. In Benito Juarez’s time, that seat was closed and the schools were established in some ancient buildings around the Centro Histórico, such as the Escuela Nacional de Medicina (Medicine National School) occupied the old Palacio de la Inquisición (Inquisition Palace), the Escuela de Ingenieros (Engineering School) in the Palacio de Minería (Mining Palace), the ancient Escuela de Jurisprudencia (Law School) in the Santa Teresa la Antigua’s cloister, etc. When Justo Sierra founded the New University, in 1910, where added others seats like the Academia de San Carlos (Saint Charles Academy), in other words the Architecture School, and the Facultad de Altos Estudios (Philosophy and Letters School and Science School). The main idea of Justo Sierra was the “spatial unity” of the University. But it was until the middle of the 1940’s when the University Council argued about the construction of the CU. On December the 31st in 1945, the Congress approved the Law of the Foundation and Construction of CU. In its planning, CU was devised to be of use for 25,000 students, as well as professors and the staff work. However, CU has lost none of its functional character today, even tough now the Cu’s population it is over 150,000.
The Ciudad Universitaria ensemble
The Ciudad Universitaria ensemble was designed by architects Mario Pani and Enrique del Moral. The CU, as most people call it, rises up above a sea of volcanic lava, where the volcano Xitle, today extinct, engulfed 2,400 years ago, and has been instrumental in the major urban growth that Mexico City has known in the second half of the 20th century: since the beginning of its construction, avenues have come into being, others have been enlarged, like the Insurgentes Avenue, one of Mexico City’s most emblematic.
The Central Campus encloses in a main east-west axis and other secondary north-south axis: the Rector Tower in the center; The Central Library, The Philosophy and Letters School, The Law School, The Economy School and The Odontology School in the northeast; The University Olympic Stadium in the west; The Architecture School, The Engineering School, The Chemistry School, The Courts (built with stone like the ancient Mesoamerican pyramids) and Sports Fields in the southeast; The Humanities Tower II (The ancient Science School) and the called “Islas” in the middle; and finally The Medicine School in the East.
The Central Library is the main symbol of UNAM. The author of that beautiful building is a Juan O’Gorman’s work, who was architect and painter. The most important character of the Library is the huge mural that covers its four facades. That is, the building has four murals with these themes: The north wall tells about the Prehispanic Past, the south wall the Colony Past, the east wall the Cotemporaneous World, and finally the west one about the University and Modern Mexico. All the murals are made with multicoloured stones from different regions of the country.
Another symbolic building is the Rector Tower which has three painted murals by a famous Mexican painter, David Alfaro Siqueiros. These murals include the painting, besides the sculpture. Others knowing murals in CU are the one of the Medicine School by Francisco Eppens, the one in the Audience “Alfonso Caso” made by José Chávez Morado and the ones which are located in the Stadium, work by Diego Rivera.
The University Olympic Stadium used for the 1968 Olympic Games and the 1986 FIFA World Cup, resembles a volcano surging out the of the earth. Like other CU buildings, it was constructed with volcanic stone from the Xitle. It was designed by the architect Augusto Pérez Palacios. In addition to Diego Rivera decorated its façade with a high-relief multicoloured mosaic symbolizing the homeland, peace, university and sports.
The Central Campus provides a space for leisure. Its platforms, talus and staircases, and the opened spaces remind the Mesoamerican cities, such as Teotihuacan , Monte Albán, Palenque and many others.
Through the time, many buildings were annexed. For example, the Centro Cultural Universitario which includes the Sala Nezahualcóyotl, Psychology School, Accountancy and Administration School, The new Science School, The Political Sciences School, The CELE (Centro de Enseñanza de Lenguas Extranjeras), The CEPE (Centro de Enseñanza Para Extranjeros), many Institutes, departments and museums like the Universum, the MUCA (Museo de Ciencias y Artes) and the new MUAC (Museo de Arte Contemporáneo).
The CU is a very big successful for The Mexican Plastic Arts owing to its wonderful architecture, sculpture and painting. The architecture of the Ciudad Universitaria is so admirable that all of those who are not students or are part directly of the University identify with it. Despite their mistakes, CU is an extraordinary construction, is an amazing place we have to learn to appraise and preserve.
Now, with this information you know a little more about CU and only if you want you can look for more information in the internet, books or newspapers, it is your decition.
JESUS/ADELA/SANDRA GROUP 605
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