Twelve Colleges building built in the mid-18th century specifically to house the government agencies. The project is the most convenient form of the building was chosen as emperor by the plan all structures have to work close to each other, is also planned to divide the whole Vasilevsky Island on ralichnye on spheres activity blocks. Until the late 19th century was a huge area, which ends in front of the Stock Exchange, but in the early 20th century there Institute of Obstetrics and Gynecology has been built, and the integrity of the entire complex was broken by this. Today, in the building of the Twelve Colleges placed the main building of the St. Petersburg University, who made sure that it has retained its historical appearance.