Landmark college building razed

The 84-year-old landmark structure, which once housed the St Joseph’s College of Arts and Science on Residency Road, is being razed to the ground after losing a battle with the travails of time.

For both the alumni and founding fathers of the college, the building was much more than just bricks and stones. The building had seen the college days of many, currently popular names in the country including Rahul Dravid, Robin Uthappa and Sabeer Bhatia.

Constructed in 1925, the building had over the years stood as visual sight for people on their way to the bustling Brigade Road and M G Road. But now, this magnificent neo-gothic structure is being demolished. Internal vibrations in the building caused by the increased traffic on Residency Road is one reason for weakening the edifice. The vibrations have caused cracks in the building’s facade, making it an unsafe, said the college authorities.

This building will now be replaced by a three-storeyed concrete structure. It will be a modern building and will house an auditorium with a seating capacity of 1,000 plus, instead of the astronomical observatory, which was the only one besides the one at the IISc. The fathers at St Joseph’s College said attempts to restore the building by repairing the damages went in vain. The building was not being used for seven years.