Leisure Centre And Ballroom, Esplanade, Aberdeen

Thomas Roberts and Hume, Bathgate, 1926; Star Ballroom probably by George Keith City Architect, 1961-3; renovated 1970s. Unusual Art Deco large, single storey and raised basement, octagonal ballroom with set-back pantiled (vernacular) pyramidal roof crowned by arcaded lantern, and 3 projecting flat-roofed single storey wings with main entrance to S, bowed bay at SE and Northern Lights Suite below later Star Ballroom at E. Prominently sited on Esplanade overlooking Aberdeen Bay. Brick and stone construction with buff faience cladding; harled with raised margins to lesser elevations. Deep contrasting granite base course, mutuled eaves cornice and stepped blocking course raised into block pediment over Ionic columned doorpieces; stylised Ionic capitalled dividing pilasters and architraved keystoned windows.

FURTHER DESCRIPTION: symmetrical 9-bay S (entrance) wing with 'THE BEACH' on pediment over centre doorpiece and steps up to deep-set 2-leaf multi-paned door with decorative fanlight. 5-bay SE wing angled to right with 3 large wide-centre tripartite windows to bowed centre bays flanked by single set-back windows. 8-bay E (Northern Lights) wing with slightly set-back pedimented doorpiece to right and distinctive stepped roofline of later full-width glass and timber Star Ballroom above.

INTERIOR: good decorative scheme in place retaining much original detail including plain cornicing, original 2-leaf swing doors both glazed and panelled, panelled dadoes, cast iron radiators and cast iron coat racks and hooks in cloakrooms. Variety of distinctive Art Deco style dog-leg staircases. Ballroom has sprung timber floor (altered) and domed ceiling (now enclosed) with ribs springing from giant order paired fluted Ionic pilasters supporting mutuled entablature; ground floor promenade below gallery with decorative plasterwork frieze giving way to plain railing punctuated by bellflower and paterae detail. Stage to NW and crush hall entrance to S.

Multi-pane glazing patterns throughout. Many original metal-framed tophopper opening windows remain to sides and rear, principal elevations have replacement timber-framed windows. Red pantiles. Cast iron downpipes with decorative rainwater hoppers.