International Institute in Spain

This mansion located at the Chamberí district houses the International Institute of Madrid, an American cultural center created in 1903 by Alice Gordon Gulick. It was conceived as a center for higher education for young ladies and a model for two novel projects of educational renovation in Spain - The Residence for Young Ladies and School Institute collaborating tightly with both of them.

It also contributes to the educational and cultural exchange between Spain and the United States through English courses and a variety of cultural activities for all ages.

The building has 3,500 m2 and was designed by the Spanish architect Joaquín Saldaña. The building started in 1904 and finished in 1911. The design is reminiscent of the female colleges of the East Coast of the USA. It is a 5-story building with a clear composition and functionality. The most interesting parts of the building are the assembly hall, the vestibule with the zenith lighting and the double staircase. The complex is rounded up with a beautiful garden that can be accessed from the interior of the building and from the street.

In 1982 it was declared a historic-artistic monument because of its construction and high-quality materials.

The International Institute houses a library whose services include: a reading area and study room, Internet access via Wi-Fi and terminals with internet connection, circulation of materials (including  lending, renewal and reservation), lending of tablets and DVD or CD multimedia players and preferential participation in library activities for members.