The history of the building and school known as Istanbul Academy of Economics and Commercial Sciences, located at the end of the Sultanahmet Square dates back to 1883. The structure was constructed by Architect Raimondo D’Aronco as the “Ministry of Agriculture” building and later used as Hamidiye Ticaret Mekteb-i Âlîsi School of Commerce. Burned down in an arson attack in 1977, the building, which had 98 rooms was entirely reconstructed in 1984, except for outer walls. It began to serve as the rectorate building of Marmara University which was formed by merging the academy with some other faculties in 1983.