On the central street of Rostov-on-Don, Bolshaya Sadovaya, an impressive multi-story building rises, which currently houses the main building of Southern Federal University. However, the history of this building goes back to the past, as it was built in 1914 by order of the Don merchant and timber industrialist Kistov for use as an income house.

The five-story building is located at the corner of Bolshaya Sadovaya Street and Universitetsky Lane. The corner part of the facade, where the main entrance was originally located, is highlighted by three half-columns of the Ionic order, reaching a height of three stories (the main entrance is now located on the side of Bolshaya Sadovaya Street). The vertical division of the facade is emphasized by pilasters and semi-circular bay windows, located from the second to the fourth floor. The floor division of the facade is accentuated by windows of various shapes and sizes. The facade also features stucco emblems, decorative vases, garlands, brackets, cornices, and balconies. The architectural style of the building combines elements of Art Nouveau and Neoclassicism, and its layout is designed in a corridor system.

The project of the income house was developed by the famous Rostov architect Grigory Nikolaevich Vasilyev, but construction was completed during World War I. The only tenant in the pre-revolutionary period was the artillery administration, which housed the artillery brigade depot here.

After the establishment of Soviet power, the building was confiscated from the owner and transferred to 'Donsovgorkhoz', later it was occupied by the Don Executive Committee. In the late 1920s and early 1930s, it housed 'Donvnutorg', the Don Workers' and Peasants' Inspection, the Regional Land Administration, the Regional Health Department, and the Regional Department of Public Education.

In 1935, Rostov State University moved into the building, as well as organizations 'Cherkavstroytrust', 'Promstroyproekt', and the Regional Archive. In the mid-1940s, the building was temporarily occupied by the People's Commissariat for State Security. Today, it houses the main building of Southern Federal University, and the building is included in the list of cultural heritage sites of regional significance.