International Research Centre for Experimental Physics, Queen's University Belfast, University Road, Belfast, BT7 1NN

This large building in a modern style with neo-Georgian elements was constructed to the designs of John MacGeagh. Construction started in early 1958 but did not complete until April 1962, when it was officially opened by The Queen Mother. The building consists of flat-roofed interlocking three-dimensional blocks of varying heights with a tall, canted entrance tower, all built of rustic brick. Now part of the School of Mathematics and Physics, the building operates as the International Research Centre for Experimental Physics – Physics and Astronomy at Queen's University.

Location and Setting

The building is located within the grounds of the main campus of Queen's University, immediately south of the South Wing Extension of the main Lanyon Building (the Old Physics Building), where the entrances of both old and new buildings align. The Sir William Whitla Hall (opened in 1949, also designed by John MacGeagh) is located immediately to the west, with the single-storey flat-roofed South Dining Hall in between. The glasshouses at the rear of The Palm House in Botanic Gardens back onto the southeast side of the site.

Structure and Layout

There are three main elements: the long east-west block (A), the north-south block (B) located at the Whitla Hall end, and the two-storey lecture theatre at the southeast end of the north-south block (C). A large modern extension now infills the former three-sided void between the blocks at the rear. The building is constructed of a steel frame encased in concrete with reinforced concrete floors and roofs. Infill panels are of brick cavity wall construction with hand-made sand-faced rustic facing bricks. Clipsham stone surrounds are used for windows and doorways, with reconstituted stone copings.

Materials

The flat roofs are finished with roofing membrane and parapet walls. Walls are of rustic brick laid in English garden wall bond, with Clipsham stone surrounds and reconstituted stone copings. Windows are replacement aluminium multi-pane double-glazed units, with planar glazing to the tower, PVC multi-pane to the rear, and top-hung metal also to the rear. Rainwater goods consist of cast iron downpipes and hoppers, as well as painted metal downpipes and hoppers.

North Elevation (Front)

The long façade faces north and is aligned approximately east-west, composed of several elements, all with parapet walls onto flat roofs. From left to right: a two-storey block with curved walls and first floor level set back from the main façade, a four-storey canted entrance tower, and a long three-storey block on the right side with a fourth storey set back from the main façade. The latter continues past the end of the three-storey section at the west end. Further storeys are set back from the tower roof, and similarly on the right side, giving access to the roof.

The lower ground floor level is semi-exposed from the pedestrian walkway, with walls and railings and steps leading down to a walkway at lower level. Flat reconstituted coping stones top all parapet walls at roof level. All windows are replacement aluminium multi-pane double-glazed windows with Clipsham stone surrounds incorporating integral cills, except the lower ground floor windows which have plain reveals and an exposed reconstituted stone lintel. Planar glazing panels fill window openings in the tower.

A blue engineering brick plinth runs along the lower ground floor level. A plain brick string course sits above windows on the lower ground level, with slightly advanced brick piers between lower ground floor windows. The right side of the tower has square cast iron downpipes and decorative cast iron hoppers draining from openings in the parapet roof; the left side has circular section painted metal downpipes with rectangular painted metal hoppers. Reproduction pendant lights are attached to the wall of the north façade. Various rooflights, vents and services sit on the surface of the flat roofs (not seen from ground level at time of survey).

From left to right: a narrow two-storey bay with central double doors on the lower ground floor level and a large window opening above within a surround, with 'panelled' stone infill between storeys. The walls narrow slightly on the upper level with chamfered stone at the edges. Next is a two-storey section of curved walling with no openings, then a two-storey section with six large window openings on both lower ground and ground floor levels. A further storey set back from the main façade has three large window openings and an advanced section of blank walling.

To the right, the four-storey canted entrance bay has an entrance on the north face with a tall planar glazed window above. Similar tall windows appear on the east and west canted faces, rising from ground floor level. Advanced plain square brick panels sit above the windows on each face. Chamfered edges run from lower ground level to roof at all corners. The main entrance is flanked by tall plain modern painted rendered engaged columns, with level access. A continuous plain stone string course runs at lower ground level head height and at floor level between lower ground and ground floor levels. A fifth storey on top of the tower and set back has a single window opening on the north side front face, and a door opening on the north face at the rear of the tower.

On the right side of the tower is a long three-storey block with a further storey set back from the main façade, featuring thirteen window openings to each level. A continuous string course runs at cill level of the lower ground level with separate reconstituted stone cills. The window opening on first floor level at the extreme right has a projecting half-balcony of stone with square-framed openings (two rows of five) along the front (a former door opening now converted to a window opening). This whole panel on the first floor is recessed by half a brick. Plain stone lintels top window openings on the set-back second floor level.

A concrete path runs to the lower ground floor level walkway, between the front façade of the building and the retaining wall, with concrete steps down fitted with metal railings. Walls and railings onto the pedestrian walkway are rustic brick built in Flemish bond with large reconstituted stone coping stones and metal railings above. The pedestrianized area along the north façade runs from east to west.

East Elevation

The east face of the entrance tower is abutted by a three-storey block. The east elevation of this block has a bricked-up opening on the left side of the second floor level and one below on the first floor level with a stone surround and infilled opening. In turn, this is abutted by a two-storey block which curves in plan towards the north; the curved wall has three window openings on each level. A tall square block rises above the entrance tower on the southeast side.

The fifth floor level (on the roof of the tower and set back) has three high-level window openings with double timber doors between the first and second windows from the left side. The modern extension is full five storeys high on the left side.

South Elevation (Rear)

The south face of the long east-west block (A) is abutted by a large modern three-storey extension (built circa 2006) which infills the inner corner formed by the east-west block (A) and the north-south block (B). The rear elevation of the east-west block is exposed only to the extreme right side.

From left to right: a three-storey block with three window openings on ground and first floor levels – windows to the ground floor are multi-pane PVC, first floor level are aluminium, with lower ground floor level not seen at time of survey. A lower two-storey block has three window openings on ground floor level with top-hung metal windows. The lower ground floor level appears to be abutted by a flat-roofed single-storey extension (not seen at time of survey). The curving section has four window openings to both lower ground and ground floor levels, all four-pane aluminium with top-hung bottom panes.

The south face of the entrance tower rises above the roof of the infill extension and has one small window opening at high level (type not seen). The south elevation of the north-south block (B) and the south elevation of the lecture theatre (C) face onto the boundary with Botanic Gardens, with the large infill extension on the right.

The north-south block (B) has a two-storey block (lower ground and ground floor levels) on the left side which wraps around the corner, linking the west elevation with the south. This block has the same four-pane aluminium windows as on the left side of the infill extension. Set back from this lower block is a narrow four-storey block (with one window opening on each level with multi-pane aluminium windows, some with top-hung openings), and then on the right side is the two-storey high lecture theatre (C).

The south face of the lecture theatre has three large window openings with multi-pane aluminium windows separated by V-shaped brick projections supporting a continuous reconstituted stone flat coping canopy. Small ventilation openings above each opening have chamfered brick cills and terracotta ventilation bricks. Detail below windows was not seen at time of survey. The right side of the block is chamfered or built on an angle.

West Elevation

From left to right: the blank end façade of the east-west block (A), then the advanced end façade of the east-west three-storey block with one opening on each level (the window on first floor level has the same half-balcony detail as on the extreme right side of the east-west block). The three-storey block (B) has a lower ground floor level which is semi-exposed from the pedestrian walkway with a brick retaining wall with reconstituted stone coping and metal railings, and metal steps leading down to a walkway. The façade has multiple window openings, similar to the east-west block (A).

The second floor level is set back and extends past the end of the two-storey section towards the south, again with multiple window openings. On the right side is a low two-storey block (lower ground and ground floor levels) which wraps around the corner, linking the west elevation with the south, with four window openings on the ground floor, lower ground floor not seen at time of survey. The east façade of the three-storey block (B) onto the flat roof of the lecture theatre (C) has a single opening to the right side on the third floor level.

A service road and car parking are located along the south boundary with access onto University Road on the west side. A brick wall in Flemish bond with flat reconstituted coping stones and wide piers with metal railings between runs along the south boundary with Botanic Gardens.