The Twelve Collegia, or Twelve Colleges (), is the largest edifice from the Petrine era remaining in Saint Petersburg. It was designed by Domenico Trezzini and Theodor Schwertfeger and built from 1722 to 1744. Description The three story, red-brick complex of 12 buildings is 400–440 meters long, giving an illusion of one enormous edifice. The result is an "austerely structured" complex with a "rustic style". The original design separated the 12 individual buildings. In subsequent restructuring, they were connected to form the modern complex. History The Twelve Collegia was commissioned by Peter the Great, who wanted a place for the Russian government, at the time divided into 12 branches: The Senate (created in February 1711, eventually renamed "Council of the Empire") The Synod Nine colleges, which replaced the old prikazy system (subsequently replaced by Ministries in 1802 under the rule of Alexander I): Foreign Affairs, Revenue Collection, Justice, Expenditure, Financial Control, War, Admiralty, Commerce, Mining and Manufacturing Additional, or tenth college/ministry for trade Modern use Twelve Collegia presently serves as one of three Petrine Baroque structures for Saint Petersburg State University. The Twelve Collegia are the headquarters of the university, which was founded in 1819 (it claims to be the successor of the Academy of St. Petersburg, and dates its foundation to 1724), stands along Mendeleevskaya Line on Vasilievsky Island. Footnotes External links Buildings and structures in Saint Petersburg Government buildings completed in 1744 Office buildings completed in 1744 Baroque architecture in Saint Petersburg Domenico Trezzini buildings and structures 1744 establishments in the Russian Empire Cultural heritage monuments of federal significance in Saint Petersburg