The campus is now known as SDU Odense, and is considered the main campus of the University of Southern Denmark, both because of its relative size and because the central administration of the university is situated there.

Being an epitome of Danish functionalist architecture, the campus has been nicknamed Rustenborg (which roughly translates as The Rusty Castle) by students and staff, because it is built from gray concrete slabs clad with weathering steel, in an early architectural use of that material.

Its architecture has also given rise to other nicknames and slang expressions among students and staff.

The University of Southern Denmark's students' magazine is simply called Rust.

Brøndsted also designed the university logo, featuring an apple tree.