MC Block, University of Ulster, Magee Campus, Northland Road, Londonderry

MC Block, University of Ulster, Magee Campus

A detached symmetrical multi-bay two-storey building with attic, built around 1895 to the designs of William Barker. The building is constructed of red brick laid in Flemish bond with red sandstone trim, and sits on an elevated site to the west of Magee University Campus, adjacent to the Main Building. The plan is irregular when viewed from the east elevation.

The roof is hipped with natural slate and terracotta ridge tiles, lead valleys, and several profiled redbrick chimneystacks with terracotta pots and corbelled capstones. Multiple timber-sheeted gabled dormers feature paired 2/1 timber sash windows and timber bargeboards. Moulded cast-iron guttering sits on projecting sandstone eaves supported by two courses of angled cogging brick, with cast-iron downpipes.

The front elevation facing east is six bays wide and symmetrical, featuring three full-height three-sided canted bay windows—one at either end and one to the middle. Each canted bay has a Dutch-style wall-head dormer window with curvilinear coping and ball finial. The walling has a projecting plinth course in red sandstone and a sandstone and cogging brick string course between floors. Rubble-stone footing is visible at the base.

Two recessed entrance bays contain four-centred arched door openings set within red sandstone doorcases. The original flat-panelled timber doors feature bolection mouldings and leaded coloured glazed fanlights, flanked by Tuscan pilasters with foliate carving to the capitals, mounted on raised plinths. The pilasters are surmounted by scrolled and fluted console brackets, also decorated with foliate carving and swags, supporting a hood cornice with diamond fielded spandrel panels. The doors open onto a concrete paved platform with three flights of concrete steps enclosed by steel railings, set within the terraced front lawn.

Windows throughout are square-headed with flush red sandstone basket-arched lintels and sandstone sills. The front elevation features 4/1 timber sash windows with slender ogee horns and some historic glass.

The south side elevation is asymmetrical, with a series of projections including an angled rectangular bay at the centre with a lead-lined flat roof, and a full-height three-sided canted bay to the left, matching the front elevation detail. A recessed section to the right contains a tall red brick chimney stack with an angled vertical course above first floor level; adjacent is a red sandstone blank cartouche set within a red sandstone panel.

The rear elevation to the west has a series of rendered gable-ended returns and projections, including a redbrick lift tower. To the right is a three-bay section detailed as per the front elevation, featuring a central doorcase opening onto a concrete universal access ramp. The rear elevation is less formal in character, with a variety of timber sash windows including 2/2, 6/2, and 4/2 lights. Windows to the north staircase include leaded stained glass with elliptical-headed openings containing 2/2 and 2/1 timber sash windows with margin lights.

The north side elevation is asymmetrical, featuring a full-height three-sided canted bay window matching the front elevation. A chimney stack and sandstone plaque adorn the left side of this elevation. A lower two-storey hipped lean-to abuts the west gable, with two square-headed openings: a 2/2 sliding sash window to the first floor and a replacement timber door to the ground floor opening onto a concrete universal access ramp and steps.

The building sits on an elevated site with terraced lawns to the front and sides. Two small bitumac yards to the rear are enclosed by red brick walling with moulded terracotta coping. A single-storey red brick garage to the west retains three sheeted timber doors with glazed upper panels. The building fronts the main bitumac driveway through the campus. Almost identical buildings stand to the west.