The meeting participants
The Saint Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering held a reunion for alumni of the Faculty of Civil Engineering, who graduated exactly half a century ago—in 1976. Fifty years later, more than seventy people gathered once again within the walls of their beloved university to see their coursemates, reminisce about their years of study, and see how their alma mater has changed. The guests were greeted by Elena Klimenko, Director of the History Information Center; Viktoria Vinogradova, Vice Rector for Continuing Education; and Andrey Nikulin, Dean of the Faculty of Civil Engineering.
For many participants, the meeting was truly moving. The familiar lecture halls and hallways instantly transported them back to their student days—preparing for exams, writing term papers and graduation projects, and meeting the people with whom they spent their most important years. Half a century is a long time, and yet, as soon as they crossed the threshold, the alumni shared the same feeling: as if those decades had never happened.
The meeting was especially poignant because, for these people, the university is literally connected to construction. They witnessed the Faculty of Civil Engineering building being constructed before their eyes: by their fourth year, the building was so complete that classes were already being held within its new walls. Some of the students had helped build it themselves over the summer—and now, fifty years later, they returned as accomplished professionals to see what that very same building had become.
The university's transformation left a strong impression on the guests. Graduates recalled how the cafeteria once huddled in the basement, but today they were greeted by clean, bright spaces and convenient passages between buildings. "Beautiful, neat, and convenient"—that's the general consensus on how the university has become. For those who have dedicated their lives to construction, these changes are especially understandable and valuable.
Speaking about current students, the graduates wished them the most important thing: to find their passion and pursue it with enthusiasm. To not be afraid of challenges and to change direction if you feel a different calling. To remember that a solid theoretical foundation is essential, but true mastery only comes with practice. And to cherish the student community: coursemates with whom you honed the academic record often remain close for life.
The meeting gave its participants the opportunity to remember the past and see what SPbGASU has become today. For most guests, the university still remains an important part of life, a place with which years of study, professional choice and true, decades-tested friendship are associated.
The half-century that has passed since the Class of 1976 has not erased this connection. The reunion was further confirmation that the years spent at SPbGASU remain truly meaningful for the graduates. The university continues to unite those for whom it once marked the beginning of their great professional journeys.