Colonnade Colonnade In classical architecture, a colonnade is a long sequence of columns joined by their entablature, often free-standing, or part of a building. Paired or multiple pairs of columns are normally employed in a colonnade which can be straight or curved. The space enclosed may be covered or open. In St. Peter's Square in Rome, Bernini's great colonnade encloses a vast open elliptical space. When in front of a building, screening the door (Latin "porta"), it is called a portico, when enclosing an open court, a peristyle. A portico may be more than one rank of columns deep, as at
Society of Architectural Historians of Architectural Historians". The name was shortened to its current form a decade later. SAH is currently the largest academic organization in the field of architectural history in the US. As part of its mission to "advance knowledge and understanding of the history of architecture, design, landscape, and urbanism worldwide", the Society publishes several works, most noticeably the "Buildings of the United States" series, as well as a newsletter and the "Journal of the Society of Architectural Historians" (). In addition, in association with the University of Virginia, the Society is developing an online encyclopedia of architecture called SAH Archipedia.