Alexandru Ioan Cuza University | Iasi

Physical & Material Composition

The "Alexandru Ioan Cuza" University of Iași (UAIC) is primarily housed in the "A" Building, a monumental structure designed in the Neoclassical style with Baroque influences. The building features a symmetrical facade extending 130 meters, constructed from load-bearing brick masonry and reinforced concrete, with an exterior finish of light-colored limestone and stucco. The central corpus is defined by a massive portico supported by Ionic columns.

The interior contains the "Hall of the Lost Footsteps" (Sala Pașilor Pierduți), a 120-meter-long gallery decorated with 19 mural paintings by Sabin Bălașa, covering approximately 300 square meters of wall surface. The University Library, located in an adjacent wing, utilizes a structural steel frame for its multi-level book stacks and features Carrara marble stairs. The building’s roof is a complex system of slate tiles and zinc flashing.

Geographical Coordinates

The university is located at Bulevardul Carol I nr. 11, Iași, 700506. Its precise spatial coordinates are 47°10′27″N latitude and 27°34′18″E longitude. The campus occupies the central portion of the Copou Hill.

The main building is situated 400 meters south of Copou Park. It stands 800 meters north of Union Square (Piața Unirii). The site is bounded by Strada Universității to the north and the "Gheorghe Asachi" Technical University campus to the east.

Access Logistics

Pedestrian access to the main corpus is facilitated via the central monumental staircase facing Bulevardul Carol I. Wheelchair accessibility is provided through a side entrance on the northern facade equipped with a hydraulic lift. The interior corridors maintain a width of 4 meters to accommodate high-volume foot traffic between lecture halls.

The site is served by tram lines 1, 8, 9, and 13 at the "Universitate" stop, located 50 meters from the main gate. STB bus lines 28, 41, and 42 provide transit to the same intersection. Parking is restricted to authorized personnel in the interior courtyards, with public metered parking available along Bulevardul Carol I.

Historical Markers

Founded on October 26, 1860, by Prince Alexandru Ioan Cuza, UAIC is the oldest university in Romania. The current main building was constructed between 1893 and 1897 according to plans by architect Louis Blanc, following the demolition of the former National Theatre. The institution was originally established with three faculties: Law, Philosophy, and Theology.

The "Hall of the Lost Footsteps" murals were executed by Sabin Bălașa between 1968 and 1978. During World War I, the building served as the seat of the Romanian government while Bucharest was under occupation. The library wing was significantly expanded in 1934 under the direction of architect Constantin Jotzu.

Insider Observation

A specific 19th-century cast-iron radiator, still integrated into the heating system of the Senate Hall, features a relief of the Romanian Royal Crown. In the southern wing of the Hall of the Lost Footsteps, a 5-centimeter structural crack in the marble floor is monitored by a glass tell-tale installed in 2012.

The wooden doors of Lecture Hall "A.D. Xenopol" feature original brass handles with a serial number "UAIC-1897" stamped on the mounting plate. The basement houses a 1950s seismic monitoring station that is still operational, anchored directly into the bedrock. The shaded limestone base of the western facade displays the moss species Orthotrichum anomalum.

Surrounding Environmental Context

The university is surrounded by the academic and cultural infrastructure of Copou Hill. To the north lies the "Mihai Eminescu" Central University Library. The southern boundary is marked by the student dormitories of the "Titu Maiorescu" campus.

Vegetation on the university grounds includes managed specimens of Tilia tomentosa (silver lime) and Thuja occidentalis. Local infrastructure includes the nearby Astronomical Observatory and the Iași Botanical Garden, located 1.2 kilometers to the northwest. The campus is adjacent to the "Vasile Pogor" Memorial House, the former headquarters of the Junimea literary society.