"Volkhovsky Pereulok" Project

A New GSOM’s Building Renovated Without State Support

GSOM BuildingSt. Petersburg State University’s School of Management officially opened its new building at Volkhovsky Pereulok 3 on July 2, 2002.

History

The history of the buildings at Volkhovsky Pereulok 1-3 represents a striking reflection of St. Petersburg’s rich cultural, architectural and personal history. Savva Yakovlevich Yakovlev – collegiate assessor, millionaire, Urals mining and metallurgy tycoon – came to St. Petersburg during Catherine the Great’s reign and built a two-storey stone house at Volkhovsky Pereulok 1 in 1770-80s. Considering then-popular baroque vulgar, it was Savva Yakovlev who introduced neo-classicism to the fashion.
 
In 1796 Savva Yakovlev’s heirs built another three-storey house next to the old one. In 1806 the two buildings were united. In the early 1820s the united facade was decorated in the late neo-classical style, attributed to the architect A.I. Melnikov.
 
The real estate was inherited by State Counselor I.A. Yakovlev (one of Savva Yakovlev’s direct heirs) in 1869; then in 1900 went to Count A.P. Shuvalov. In 1910-17 the academician of architecture Count P.Yu. Suzor was the owner.
 
After the Revolution 1917 the whole estate was nationalized to accommodate a hospital, then some military quarters in the western wing. In 1923 both buildings were given to the “Old Petersburg” society for the “Museum of the Moribund Cult” headed by V.A. Tauber. The museum was collecting icons, iconostases, ornaments and books confiscated from city churches closed by Bolsheviks. The exhibition was located in the suite of halls on the second storey of both buildings.
 
In 1928 the buildings were transferred to the USSR Academy of Sciences, and in 1935 one of the Academy’s institutes – for cements (“Giprocement” R&D Institute since 1937) – occupied them. The houses were reconstructed twice – in 1930s and 1950s – to accommodate the Institute’s departments, labs and workshops, which – along with water and heating leaks – heavily damaged the interior decoration.
 
In 1996 St. Petersburg Administration transferred the buildings to St. Petersburg State University for the School of Management.

Reconstruction Stages

1st stage, 1997-99: general construction works (Volkhovsky Pereulok 1-3).
2nd stage, 2000-02: decoration and restoration (Volkhovsky Pereulok 3).
The total cost of the first two stages – $4.5 mln.
3rd stage, 2003-05: decoration (Volkhovsky Pereulok 1), restoration (Volkhovsky Pereulok 1-3).
Total cost – $2 mln.

Volkhovsky Pereulok 3

Ground floor: wardrobe and computer center (90 workstations). First floor: classrooms.
Total space – 4,500 sq.m
Number of classrooms – 25 (capacity of 10 up to 80 students)
Total student capacity – 500.

Infrastructure

  • Computer center: 8 computer classes, total capacity 90 students
  • Library: 4,000 stock units
  • Cafeteria: 50 seats
The second floor represents the historical interior. Many rooms preserve original stoves and fireplaces, wooden window frames, ceiling plaster.
 
The third – attic – floor was added during the reconstruction. The height and configuration of the roof was modified to increase the number of classes. The original wooden beams dating back to the early 19th century were cleaned and fastened to be naturally included in the modern classrooms.

Equipment

  • Air conditioning and fire alarm systems by Honeywell.
  • Access control system by Honeywell.
  • CCTV.
  • Additional transformer substation.
  • Heating central.

Donors

The reconstruction was financed from the money donated during SOM’s international fundraising campaign.

Major donors (1996-2002)

$1 mln. and over
Arthur B. Schultz Foundation (U.S.)
 
$500,000–999,000
Open Society Institute (Soros Foundation)
 
$100,000–499,000
Honeywell, Inc.
John E. Pepper, Chairman, The Procter&Gamble Co. (retired), Doctor Honoris Causa, St. Petersburg State University
David and Lucile Packard Foundation (U.S.)
Archer Daniels Midland Co.
Gazprombank
The Gillette Co.
Alfa-Bank
 
$10,000–99,000
Henkel KGaA
United Technologies Corp.
L’Oreal
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Norway
Peter Jacobi, SOM International Advisory Board member
Andrei L. Zagorsky, SOM International Advisory Board member
International Bank of St. Petersburg
Sun Microsystems, Inc.
Time Warner Co.
Court Room TV
Ecotech Group
BusinessLink Group
Joe Richie (U.S.)
Donald Kendall (U.S.)
Norsk Hydro ASA
Richard H. Beahrs, SOM International Advisory Board member
Polymetall
 
Under $10,000
STAR SPB, Ltd.
Levi Strauss & Co.
Susanne M. Campbell, SOM International Advisory Board member
Wurt Co.
Coudert Brothers, Inc.
 
The building at Volkhovsky Pereulok 3 was named after Arthur B. Schultz.