McGill University, Research university in Montreal, Canada
McGill University is a research institution located in Montreal with 85 buildings arranged on two main sites, most in limestone and grouped around lawns and pathways. The main section extends from Roddick Gate uphill toward Mount Royal, blending open green spaces with denser clusters of buildings closer to downtown.
James McGill, a Scottish merchant, left land and funds in 1821 to establish the institution, which began with a medical school teaching 25 students. Over the following decades, it grew from a small college into a large research university with multiple faculties and international reach.
Students from about 150 countries walk the paths and gather in cafés across campus, making it feel internationally diverse. Classes and daily conversations happen in both French and English, reflecting Montreal's bilingual character.
The grounds include several libraries, research centers, and athletic facilities accessible through different entrances. The main campus sits on a slope, so paths vary in steepness and connect buildings at different elevations.
Researchers run stations in the Canadian Arctic thousands of kilometers north of the main campus, where they study environmental changes and climate patterns. These remote outposts make it possible to collect data in conditions far removed from urban life.
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