Senate House, London

Senate House is an imposing nineteen story Art Deco structure that stands as a fortress of Portland stone in the heart of Bloomsbury. Designed by architect Charles Holden and completed in nineteen thirty seven, the building was originally envisioned as the administrative center of the University of London. Its design was so massive and rigid that it was frequently referred to as a battleship by contemporaries, including King George the Fifth. While it serves an academic purpose today, its sheer scale and angular, stoic appearance have earned it a reputation as one of the most formidable buildings in the city.