diff --git a/core/api/src/main/java/org/onosproject/ui/model/topo/UiElement.java b/core/api/src/main/java/org/onosproject/ui/model/topo/UiElement.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..4f2f9cb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/core/api/src/main/java/org/onosproject/ui/model/topo/UiElement.java
@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+/*
+ *  Copyright 2016 Open Networking Laboratory
+ *
+ *  Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ *  you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ *  You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ *      http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ *  Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ *  distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ *  WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ *  See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ *  limitations under the License.
+ */
+
+package org.onosproject.ui.model.topo;
+
+/**
+ * Abstract base class of all elements in the UI topology model.
+ */
+public class UiElement {
+}