University Of Hull Venn Building

The Venn Building is a university administration building constructed in 1927 by the architectural practice WA Forsyth & Partners. It is built in the Neo-Georgian style using brick with ashlar dressings, and is roofed with hipped plain tiles and flat copper sections, topped with nine coped brick ridge stacks.

The building has a square plan with an inner courtyard and rises to 2 and 3 storeys with attics. It comprises approximately 15 by 16 windows. A plinth and moulded eaves are features of the exterior, which is defined by projecting end pavilions on each front.

The eastern entrance front features a projecting centre containing three windows, articulated by shallow pilasters and angle pilasters, with rusticated quoins at ground floor level. The centrepiece consists of a three-light window with moulded sill, flanked by single-light windows, with larger two-light windows beyond. Above are two box dormers with two-light casements. Below this, a central rebated round-arched doorway with hoodmould is set between panelled double doors and a glazing bar fanlight, flanked by single-light windows and two-light windows beyond. To the left, a range features a central three-light window flanked by two-light windows on each floor, with three hipped dormers above containing cross casements. To the right, a similar arrangement includes a central three-light window, with three-light and single windows variously positioned, and three hipped dormers above. The left pavilion has a central three-light window flanked by recessed panels with round-arched blanks; below sits a three-light window flanked by two-light windows. The right pavilion features three-light windows flanked by two-light windows on each floor.

The south front presents a symmetrical range with three-light and two-light windows on each floor and eight hipped dormers above. End pavilions display shallow and angle pilasters with rusticated quoins to ground floor, three-light windows flanked by two-light windows on each floor, and two hipped dormers above.

The west front has a projecting centre with three three-light windows and two hipped dormers above; a round-arched doorway below is flanked by two-light windows. On either side are ranges with four two-light windows on each floor and three dormers. The pavilions feature three-light windows flanked by two-light windows on each floor, with hipped dormers containing three-light windows above.

The three-storey north elevation contains a central range with a two-light window flanked by single windows and two further two-light windows, with five dormers above. The pavilions have three-light windows on each floor towards the centre and four-light box dormers. The courtyard has regular fenestration and box dormers; its eastern projecting centre rises three storeys with a projecting entrance bay containing a Venetian window and a seven-light dormer above. A doorway below is flanked by single windows; beyond are two-light windows on each floor, the ground floor example transomed. The north-west and south-west corners are extruded, the south-west one rising five storeys and topped with a mansard roof.

Windows throughout are predominantly wooden-framed cross casements with leaded glazing.

The interior features a cantilevered concrete dogleg staircase with a patterned cast-iron balustrade and ramped scrolled wooden handrail.

The University College jointly endowed by TR Ferens and the City of Hull became a full university in 1954. The Venn Building forms a group with the grade II listed Cohen Building (formerly the Earth Sciences Block), also designed by WA Forsyth & Partners.