Corporation Electricity Works, Millburn Street, Aberdeen

Corporation Electricity Works, Millburn Street, Aberdeen

Built in 1903 and 1904 by the Aberdeen Corporation Engineer's Office, this industrial complex comprises a tall entrance block facing Millburn Street, a large workshop and warehouse block fronting Crown Street, and various connecting wings forming an extended U-plan layout.

The main entrance block rises three storeys across three bays, with a two-storey wing extending to the rear. The larger workshop and warehouse section is seven bays wide fronting Crown Street, also with two-storey rear wings. The buildings are constructed in granite with ashlar facing to Crown Street and Millburn Street elevations; the remaining walls are coursed and ladder-pinned. Throughout the structure are base courses, dividing band courses above the ground floor, first-floor cill courses, and eaves cornices with raised wallheads. The design incorporates pilaster quoins to the corners.

The principal southern elevation facing Millburn Street is symmetrical and richly decorated. The ground floor features quarry-faced granite with a central consoled and corniced doorway containing a six-panel door flanked by panelled sidelights, topped by a timber dentil cornice and a three-light rectangular fanlight, with a decorative cast-iron lamp-holder above. Bipartite windows with chamfered reveals flank this doorway to either side. The first floor displays a prominent bipartite window with a fluted pilaster mullion, consoled capitals and pediment at the centre, with two-light windows in the flanking bays. Three regularly placed architraved windows occupy the second floor. The raised wallhead carries an inscription reading "CORPORATION ELECTRICITY WORKS" and is crowned by a curvilinear gable featuring carved stonework depicting the Arms of the City of Aberdeen. A two-storey link adjoins to the left, containing a round-arched former entrance now filled with mullioned glazing, a corbelled band course above, and two windows at first-floor level. A three-storey modernised wing flanks further to the left.

The eastern elevation is asymmetrical, with the front block positioned to the left. It features a blind round arch at ground level, while the first and second floors display four bays, each containing a window. A two-storey wing extends northward with a modern two-storey block adjoining.

The northern elevation is complex and asymmetrical. A gabled three-bay wing advances to the left with three windows to the first floor and a modern addition at ground level. The right side incorporates a large round-arched pend entrance at the far right, with a modern raised link corridor at centre. The warehouse section features an M-gabled projection to the right, with two depressed-arched windows to each gable, a louvred bull's-eye opening with moulded surround set in each gablehead, and spherical stone finials at the apex. Six depressed-arched openings run along the left return, with modern additions and alterations evident throughout.

The western elevation is similarly asymmetrical. A three-storey, four-bay modernised wing occupies the right side with windows to the two central bays flanked by bipartite windows at ground, first and second floors. The seven-bay warehouse adjoins to the left with pilastered bays; the two central bays and outer left bay are pedimented. A depressed-arched doorway to the outer left bay is partly infilled with a door and window, while six remaining bays feature depressed-arched windows to the right.

Throughout the complex, roofing is predominantly grey slate, some with piend details and lead ridges. A square platform balcony with decorative cast-iron brattishing and corner finials projects from the centre of the Millburn Street block, surmounted by a steel pylon. Ridge ventilators with conical caps, granite wallhead and gablehead stacks, and cast-iron rainwater goods complete the external detailing. Glazing is predominantly modern, with 16-pane windows to the warehouse. Additional modern alterations and extensions are evident across multiple elevations.

The entrance lobby contains a tiled mosaic floor featuring the Aberdeen Coat of Arms. The interior offices have been extensively modernised, particularly in the 1970s and subsequently, with wood panelling used extensively throughout.