The building is situated between the Tyszkiewicz Palace and the main gate of the University. Originally, the place was a palace in the late-Baroque style for Stanisław Poniatowski, the father of future King Stanisław August Poniatowski. In 1843 the owner of the building was Seweryn Uruski, who decided to crate an entirely new edifice: his palace, built between 1844-1847 in the Italian Renaissance style, was designed by Andrzej Gołoński. During the reconstruction that took place between 1893-1895, an annex was added, which served as a coach-house, and had some small flats for rent. The palace was burned down during the Warsaw Uprising in 1944 and was rebuilt in 1948-1951. In 1946, it became the property of the University of Warsaw and today, it is the University's Department of Geography and Regional Studies.