A while back we did this vital ranking of the UK universities which would be the last to go under in the event of rising sea levels.
It proved to be an extremely popular league table, and was rumoured to have been quoted approvingly by several senior leaders from well-placed institutions, but was the subject of a number of challenges and appeals. Perhaps surprisingly the data has yet too make it into the leading domestic rankings.
The latest key ranking then is of the tallest university buildings in the world, courtesy of Wikipedia, defined as having an occupiable height that is 90% devoted to classroom, research, and educational administration use. Student residential accommodation does not count.
Here is the top 20 then and with all of them coming in at over 100m they certainly offer the opportunity for a dizzying educational experience for their students and staff. I’ve never been to Moscow State University but I’ve always thought it looks fantastic.
| Building | University | Height (m) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Main Building | Lomonosov Moscow State University | 240 m |
| 2 | Mode Gakuen Cocoon Tower | Multiple | 204 m |
| 3 | Mode Gakuen Spiral Towers | Multiple | 170 m |
| 4 | Cathedral of Learning | University of Pittsburgh | 163 m |
| 5 | Cathedral of Learning | Assumption University of Thailand | 159 m |
| 6 | Vertical Campus | Roosevelt University | 143m |
| 7 | Guang Hua Tower | Fudan University | 142m |
| 8 | Shinjuku Building | Kogakuin University | 133 m |
| 9 | STEC Information Building | Kogakuin University | 124 m |
| 10 | Boissonade Tower | Hosei University | 122 m |
| 11 | Academy of Sciences Headquarters | Russian Academy of Sciences | 120 m |
| 12 | UTS Tower | University of Technology, Sydney | 120 m |
| 13 | Peter Gilgan Centre for Research and Learning | University of Toronto | 119 m |
| 14 | Liberty Tower | Meiji University | 119 m |
| 15 | Torre de la Universidad Laboral | Universidad Laboral de Gijón | 117 m |
| 16 | 25 Park Place | Georgia State University | 115 m |
| 17 | Erasmus MC Faculteitsgebouw | Erasmus MC | 114 m |
| 18 | Rhodes Tower | Cleveland State University | 111 m |
| 19 | Academy of Sciences | Latvian Academy of Sciences | 108 m |
| 20 | University Hall | University of Illinois at Chicago | 103 m |
(All data taken from Wikipedia.)
The tallest UK university according to the data sits a long way off the pace with the University of Sheffield coming in at 50th thanks to the Arts Tower.
And before Warwick submits an appeal for the presence of Warwick Business School on two floors of the Shard, that doesn’t quite meet the criteria (and the 17th floor, whilst it has fantastic views I’m told, is a long way from the top).
No arguments with this list then I think.
