Standing gracefully within the Bendan Ngisor Campus area of Universitas Negeri Semarang (UNNES), the historic postgraduate building once again draws public attention for its cultural and academic significance. The structure, located at Jl. Lamongan Tengah No. 2, Bendan Ngisor, is among UNNES’s most prominent heritage buildings, formerly serving as the central hub for all academic and administrative activities of the postgraduate programs (Master’s and Doctoral degrees).
Established in 1997, the UNNES Postgraduate School found its early academic home in this very building, which hosted the university’s earliest seminars, thesis defenses, and doctoral examinations. The site also holds immense historical value as it witnessed the institutional transformation of IKIP Semarang into Universitas Negeri Semarang in 1999, marking a pivotal era in the development of higher education in Central Java.
As the university expanded and the number of postgraduate students grew, the activities of the Postgraduate School were officially relocated in February 2017 to the Kelud Utara III Campus, which offers larger and more modern facilities. Nevertheless, the Bendan Ngisor building continues to be preserved and repurposed for administrative functions and selected academic training sessions.
Beyond its architectural presence, the building embodies the academic heritage and institutional identity of UNNES as a Conservation University committed to preserving historical assets. For thousands of alumni, it remains a symbolic space filled with memories of scholarly pursuit, intellectual exchange, and academic growth.
The university continues to maintain and revitalize the structure through conservation and light restoration efforts, ensuring its physical endurance without compromising its original architectural character. This initiative reflects UNNES’s dedication to safeguarding its historical landmarks as part of its broader mission to integrate cultural preservation within the sphere of education.
With its enduring historical value and academic contribution, the UNNES Postgraduate Building at Bendan Ngisor stands as tangible evidence of how higher education in Semarang has evolved—rooted in tradition, enriched by heritage, and continually advancing toward the future.
