The Bratniak building was constructed in the interwar period and originally served as a German student residence. Shortly after World War II, it became the headquarters of Bratnia Pomoc - a student organization whose numerous departments (housing, economic, labor, budget and finance, personnel, health, events) were involved in organizing various aspects of university life (the organization was abolished in 1948 by a decision from above).
From the very beginning, a student culture was created here. In the late 1950s, the club operating in Bratniak began to be called Kwadratowa. The flagship events of the university included the All-Poland Review of Student Jazz Bands, initiated in 1965, and the All-Poland Review of Student Theaters of Technical Universities, known as "Przetarg". Among the most important cultural events in Kwadratowa were meetings with Juliette Greco and Lucjan Kydryński, Lucyna Winnicka and Jerzy Kawalerowicz, Maria Wachowiak and Gustaw Holoubek.
In the late 1960s and 1970s, the "Spotkania Jesienne" (Autumn Meetings) took place - an annual event aimed at presenting the artistic achievements of students from the coast and other academic centers in Poland. For two weeks, young artists participated in poetry, theater, and cabaret competitions.
In the 1980s and 1990s, the club hosted top Polish and even international artists. On November 6, 2004, the new club, Academic Club of the Gdańsk University of Technology 'Kwadratowa', was opened with its new owner, the Rector of the Gdańsk University of Technology.
Currently, in accordance with tradition, Bratniak houses many student organizations, with the Students Union of the Gdańsk University of Technology at the forefront.
