YMCA Building, 179-187 Albertbridge Road, Belfast, County Antrim, BT5 4PS

YMCA Building, Albertbridge Road, Belfast

A three-storey seven-bay Edwardian YMCA building erected in 1903 to the designs of architect W.J.W. Roome. The building has a rectangular plan form with later alterations to the rear. It occupies a prominent position on Albertbridge Road at its junction with Templemore Avenue, adjacent to 189 Albertbridge Road.

The roof is pitched with natural slate and clay ridge tiles, featuring moulded eaves with plain soffit and eaves brackets. Current guttering comprises replacement extruded semi-circular gutters with circular downpipes. The walling is red brick laid to Flemish bond with red sandstone dressing. The gables are generally flanked by semi-octagonal brick pilasters and terminated with ball finials; further ball finials sit over kneeler and apex stones.

The principal elevation faces north and is symmetrically arranged. Double-height timber casement oriel-bay windows feature spandrel panels recessed into segmental-arched openings with sandstone springer blocks and hood mouldings. The ground floor originally contained six shop fronts, now reconciled to two flanking either side of the centrally located main entrance to the upper floors. Above this entrance is a mosaic inscribed with "MOUNTPOTTINGER Y.M.C.A". The shop fronts are segmented by painted masonry pilasters rising to moulded cartouches on blank capitals, with a continuous enlarged ovolo cornice course above.

A four-storied gabled central bay is flanked by semi-octagonal plain brick pilasters terminated by large ball finials. Paired narrow double-height recessed oriel bays feature moulded busts on key blocks and central double-spring blocks. The third floor rises above the eaves level, comprising four uniform square-headed 1/1 timber sash windows with continuous sandstone cill and moulded head. Intersecting sandstone pilasters rise to the underside of the apex stone, flanking kneelers.

Three double-height bays span the ground floor shop fronts to the left and right. The left gable is symmetrically arranged with a blank painted brick ground floor containing a central blank canted bay. A cornice course separates ground and first floor. A centrally located first floor oriel bay is present, with an enlarged segmental-arched window to the second floor flanked by two diminished windows; continuous cill course and hood mouldings are evident. A brick chimney rises over the gable apex.

The right gable has an asymmetrical ground floor with a shop frontage to the left side and a square-headed infilled opening to the right. The upper floors are symmetrical, comprising two narrow square-headed windows at first and second floor levels matching the left elevation.

The rear elevation faces south and is asymmetrically arranged with substantial later alterations. It features three first floor roller shutters with wide segmental-arched windows above. The right side is abutted by a historic three-storey former residential block and further modern altered abutments of no significant architectural interest. The rear now functions as a car park enclosed by a palisade fence.

The building is prominently sited at the junction of an arterial route to the east of Belfast, surrounded by a cluster of socially significant historic buildings including schools, churches, a swimming bath, and an orange hall. Beyond these, the area comprises largely two and three-storey terraced housing. A contemporary bus shelter stands immediately in front of the primary entrance.