Carnelley Building, University Of Dundee, Park Place, Dundee

The Carnelley Building, located on Park Place in Dundee, is a purpose-built chemistry teaching building with a complex construction history, dating back to 1883. It is a two-storey structure with a basement and attic, based on a basically rectangular plan. The building’s design is classically detailed.

The original structure was an L-plan building of a single storey and basement, constructed in 1883. A pavilion was added at the southwest angle in 1889, forming a U-plan. Further expansion occurred in 1905 with the addition of three tripartite bays to the north, creating a rectangular plan. A first floor was added in 1950, followed by an attic storey in 1957-8.

The building is largely constructed of cream sandstone ashlar on its front and Park Place elevations, with channelled detailing to the front ground floor centre bays. Elsewhere, it features stugged sandstone coursers, slightly darker at the first floor level, with ashlar dressings. The roof is slate-hung with a Mansard style. The ground and first floors are slightly set back from the basement, with channelled quoin strips at the corners. There is an ashlar wallhead course and moulded cornice, along with a cill course at ground floor to the front and Park Place elevations. Windows are single, bi-, and tripartite, architraved to the front and Park Place elevations, and feature a two-pane timber sash and case glazing pattern. Large multi-pane top-hoppers are present on the lecture theatre block at the northwest angle. Cast-iron rainwater goods are visible, with a hopper dated 1883 on the rear elevation.

The front elevation is seven bays wide and symmetrical. The central five bays are recessed, with a corniced tripartite doorpiece containing a panelled door, a leaded fanlight, and sidelights. This entrance is accessed by balustraded steps over the basement, which includes pedestals and squat cast-iron lamp standards (lanterns missing). Bipartite and single windows flank the recessed section, while three bipartites are flanked by single windows on the first floor. Two painted coats of arms are positioned between the floors. The basement level has two single and bipartite windows. There are five dormers in the roof. The pavilion bays are advanced to the left and right, each featuring tripartite windows on all floors.

The left return elevation's original lecture theatre bay is slightly advanced and features three elongated stepped windows and a coped pedimental gable with an anthemion acroterion. To the right are nine bays with seven windows to the basement, nine to the ground and first floors, and seven dormers.

The Park Place elevation is nine bays wide and symmetrical, with various doors and windows to the basement. A tripartite window is centrally positioned on the ground and first floors, flanked by bipartites and three single windows. Ten dormers are present.

The rear elevation features the original lecture theatre to the right, with four elongated windows, partially masked by fire escapes. A higher block to the left has four windows on the ground and first floors, and three dormers. A later, higher single bay ventilation block rises from the lecture theatre wallhead on the right.

The interior includes a memorial plaque to Thomas Carnelley in the entrance hall. Ground floor laboratories retain original benches and sinks, and have a boarded arch-braced roof with 4-light continuous glazing. Original pitch pine panelled doors and architraves are present throughout. The main lecture theatre remains in its original condition, including pitch pine pews, a lecture bench, panelled window reveals, and a boarded arch-braced roof with continuous glazing.

High rubble boundary walls, likely dating back to the late 18th or early 19th century and related to earlier villas on the site, border Park Place and extend partially along the front and rear elevations.