The KBTU Building is a building in

Almaty Almaty (; kk, Алматы; ), formerly known as Alma-Ata ( kk, Алма-Ата), is the List of most populous cities in Kazakhstan, largest city in Kazakhstan, with a population of about 2 million. It was the capital of Kazakhstan from 1929 to ...

that is located in the

Astana Square Astana Square ( kz, Астана Алаңы, ''Astana Alaŋy'') or Old Square is a city square in Almaty, Kazakhstan. It is the second largest square in Kazakhstan, after Republic Square. It hosts many public events, concerts, and ceremonies. The ...

. Constructed in 1957, it is one of the most historic and iconic buildings in the city.

History

The building was originally intended to serve the

Supreme Soviet of the Kazakh SSR The Supreme Soviet of the Kazakh SSR ( kk, Қазақ ССР Жоғарғы Советі, Qazaq SSR Joğarğy Sovetı; russian: Верховный Совет Казахской ССР), also known as the Supreme Council was a unicameral legislativ ...

. The construction of it began in 1938 at the cost of 14 million rubles, but by 1941, only excavations were dug on the spot. During

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

, construction was suspended, it was resumed in 1951 and completed in 1957. The building was designed in the workshop of Mosproject under the direction of architect Boris Rubanenko. The drafts were carried out by Kazgorstroyproekt under the direction of P.A. Mamontov, G.A. Kalish. The building consists of three compositional volumes, interconnected by wide passages. In the center of them is the Supreme Council Hall, located along the main longitudinal axis of the building, it forms two rectangular courtyards. The architectural solution of the main facade is a huge 8-column spatial portico, creating an effective play of light and shadow. The interior has a clear layout of the interior space of the building. In 1972, the side halls were expanded. In 1980, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Kazakhstan moved to a new building in the Republic Square. In 1982, the building was added to the list of monuments of urban planning and architecture. In 1987 the Alley of Busts memorial complex was established near the building to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the

October Revolution The October Revolution,. officially known as the Great October Socialist Revolution. in the Soviet Union, also known as the Bolshevik Revolution, was a revolution in Russia led by the Bolshevik Party of Vladimir Lenin that was a key moment ...

. The law on Independence of the Republic of Kazakhstan was adopted in this building in 1991. From 1997 to 2001, the building served as a residence for the Akim of Almaty Region. The building after that remained vacant for less than year until it became occupied by the

Kazakh-British Technical University Kazakh-British Technical University, or KBTU is a research and educational institution located in Almaty, Kazakhstan. It was founded in 2001. About KBTU KBTU’s research is focused in the main sectors of the Kazakhstani economy – oil and ga ...

. In 2018, the main hall of KBTU was reconstructed. This required the construction of special scaffolding with a height of 14 meters.

References

{{coord missing, Kazakhstan Buildings and structures in Almaty Buildings and structures completed in 1957