Historical Building Complex of University of Shanghai – Music Hall

Historical Building Complex of University of Shanghai – Music Hall

The Music Hall was built in 1935 and has two floors. Originally serving as the auditorium for the secondary school department, the upper floor functioned as the auditorium while the lower floor housed offices and science laboratories. It was later converted into the music room for the University of Shanghai. The building features a Gothic architectural style, giving the impression of an exquisite church. The main entrance is marked by a pointed arch doorway, with multi-layered arch designs above, featuring a rectangular arched window set within a pointed arch window frame, topped with a triangular gable. Small rose-shaped windows reminiscent of Christian motifs are located above the side windows. The exterior facade is adorned with simplified buttresses between the windows, each crowned with small pointed turrets. The corners of the building are similarly decorated with small turrets. The southeast façade includes a double-flight staircase leading to a side entrance on the second floor. The roof is steeply pitched with red clay tiles, and the exterior walls are constructed from exposed red bricks. The building breaks away from rigid forms and offers varying visual effects from different angles, making it one of the finest structures within the University of Shanghai.

After the liberation, the building was used as a library and has served as a school office building since 1999.

In October 1935, the Academy Assembly Hall was completed at a construction cost of $7,600. The upper floor served as the auditorium, while the lower floor housed offices and science laboratories. It was later converted into the Music Hall, dedicated for use by the music department of the University of Shanghai. The ground floor was used for classrooms and piano practice rooms, and the second floor accommodated large lecture halls.