University of Strathclyde John Anderson campus (Glasgow)

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The University of Strathclyde traces its origins to Anderson's Institution, which was established in 1796 in accordance with instructions contained in the Will of John Anderson (1726-1796), Professor of Natural Philosophy at the University of Glasgow. This 'place of useful learning' was designed to attract those excluded from the university system (in particular, the artisans of the city). Lectures were to include experiments and demonstrations. Women were also to be encouraged to attend the Institution's classes.

During the 19th Century, Anderson's Institution developed a Medical School, spawned the Glasgow Mechanics' Institution, and grew in prestige and in the scope of its activities. It changed its name to Anderson's University, and then to Anderson's College. In 1887 it became the Glasgow & West of Scotland Technical College, at which point the Medical School became independent (it was finally absorbed into Glasgow University in 1947). The Technical College was renamed the Royal Technical College in 1912 and became the Royal College of Science and Technology in 1956. In 1964 it merged with the Scottish College of Commerce (which started in 1847 as the Glasgow Athenaeum). Later in 1964, the merged institution became the University of Strathclyde. In 1993 the University joined with Jordanhill College of Education. Jordanhill College had originated in the pioneering teacher-training work of David Stow (1793-1864) and had become, on the eve of merger, the largest teacher-training institution in the UK.

The John Anderson Campus occupies a six-acre site to the north east of the city centre. As part of the Bruce Report in the late 1950s, the area was zoned for educational use in anticipation of the Royal College's impending elevation to university status. As the tenement slums, churches and even factories which once stood on the site were swept away - a rapid programme of campus expansion took place in the 1960s and 1970s when most of the current academic buildings were constructed and almost nothing pre-1960 apart from the Barony Hall has been preserved.

The 1980s and 1990s saw the expansion of the "Student Village" on the eastern third of the campus.

Some of the buildings on the campus were acquired from other organisations and subsequently redeveloped for academic use - the Graham Hills Building for example was originally the Marland House office complex and telephone exchange built by the GPO, the Curran Building was a warehouse owned by Collins Printers. The St Pauls, Barony Hall and Ramshorn were all originally churches in the area which were converted for various academic purposes.

Since the mid 2000s, the University has embarked on an ambitious campus redevelopment plan costing over £300 million, the aim being to consolidate into a smaller number of buildings centralised around Rottenrow Gardens, with both Richmond and North Portland Streets eventually being pedestrianised. The western fringe of the campus along John Street is slowly being vacated, with both the former Sports Centre and Students Union moving to new accomodation