New Anatomical Theatre

Despite being used by the Department of Psychology at the Faculty of Social Sciences and Education of the University of Tartu, the building continues to be called the New Anatomical Theatre. It was constructed in the 1880s for the needs of the university’s Faculty of Medicine – the constantly growing medical faculty required new premises and a larger clinical base. Until then, the disciplines of the Faculty of Medicine had been taught in the old Anatomy Building on Toome Hill, built according to the project of Johann Wilhelm Krause. The design of the New Anatomy Building was done by the university architect Reinhold Guleke, based on the plans of Professor Richard Thoma, the head of the Department of Pathological Anatomy, and the final project was completed together with the architect Rudolf von Bernhardt. The Neo-Renaissance-style building was the largest new construction at the university at the time of completion. The last major renovation took place in the Anatomy Building in 2013, during which the building was modernized and additional space was added by adapting the basement floor for working rooms.

Photo: Kevin Loigu