Dining Room And Assembly Hall Block, Madras College, Kilrymont Road

Dining Room and Assembly Hall Block, Madras College

A comprehensive school complex designed by Fife County Council Architects with plans dated 1963–4 and opened in 1967. Ian Stewart served as project architect under county architect R S Lawrie. The scheme comprises several linked blocks arranged across the site and remains largely unaltered.

The principal Dining Room and Assembly Hall Block features a striking rectangular plan with a complex, multi-pagoda style roofline. Its north elevation overlooks open ground and is dominated by large glazed panels interspersed with black enamel apron panels. Six giant semicircular piers articulated with aquamarine glazed tiles punctuate the elevation. The roofline steps down from left to right: the tallest element is a double pagoda roof over the 2-bay dining room on the left; to its right sits a single-bay dining room with a tall single pagoda roof. The assembly hall to the south elevation features vertical bands of red brick and green tiling. Its south side displays a complex multi-faceted cantilevered roof crowned with a tall metal crescent finial.

A near-central flat-roofed glazed link block of 2 storeys contains the principal entrance and connects to the classroom block. This link is marked by narrow black enamel aprons at ground level and larger black enamel aprons at first floor.

The interior scheme remains largely intact. A central spine corridor runs through the complex. The Assembly Hall features a complex roof structure mirroring the external appearance, with saw-tooth style fan-vaulting over the stage area. A gallery to the west has zig-zag projections to the balcony. The floor is laid in herringbone pattern timber parquet. The stage is flanked by tall timber fins with beaten metal appliqué artwork. The Dining Halls have curved ceilings echoing the pagoda roofs, with deep timber beams and cream, orange and brown coloured glass light fittings. Some red banding appears to the upper parts.

The large Classroom Block adopts a V-plan with a flat roof and is largely glazed. A central raised water tank with cantilevered roof echoes the pagoda roofscape. The west gables are brown brick, while the north elevation features a deep dark grey random rubble base course. Black enamel apron panels to the floors create strong horizontal emphasis. A projecting flat-roofed verandah runs along the south elevation, with narrow blue and red enamel panels at ground floor level.

The classroom block interior contains a central spine corridor with classrooms leading off, a wide open plan area at the centre of the first floor, and a pair of wide cantilevered staircases at either end.

The freestanding Sports Hall to the west contains gymnasium and swimming pool facilities. It is clad with vertically aligned brown brick, concrete panels, white glazed tiles and black painted timber. The roofline is complex and interlocking with clerestory windows. The entrance elevation faces east with three central tall bays of narrow vertically arranged windows beneath very deep overhanging eaves. Single storey flat-roofed entrances occupy the outer bays with steeply overhanging eaves.

Throughout the complex, predominantly top-hung aluminium glazing is employed. Materials include large areas of glazing with black enamel apron panels, tiles, brick, stylised rubble, and painted timber.

Boundary walls comprise simple rubble construction with low metal railings and simple metal railings.