University Of Strathclyde, 204 George Street, Glasgow

This is a large, four-storey and attic Italianate college building with a raised basement, constructed in 1903 to a design by David Barclay. It occupies a block site at the junction of George Street, John Street, and Montrose Street in Glasgow.

The building’s facade is strictly symmetrical, presenting 19 bays to George Street, 17 bays to Montrose Street, and 7 bays to John Street. It is built in polished red ashlar, with polished pink granite used for the basement and rusticated masonry on the ground floor of the central and end bays. The George Street elevation has been stonecleaned, with the cleaning extending two bays beyond the central section on each side. The bays 2-6-3-6-2 of George Street are arranged with the central and end bays projecting and taller.

The central three bays of the George Street elevation feature a large round arched entrance, now partly glazed, with steps leading to the entrance hall. Basement windows are basket arched in the end and centre bays; otherwise, they are square-headed with decorative cast-iron grilles. Ground floor windows have cavetto lintels, with the end bays featuring round arched surrounds. First floor windows are arched, with a bipartite lower section; the end bays have round arched aedicular windows. The second and third floors have windows treated as a unified pilastered arcaded element, the second floor featuring a Doric column mullion between bipartite windows, while the third floor has semi-circular windows. The end and central bays of the fourth floor have round arched paired windows. All windows are single-light, metal-framed pivot windows.

Projecting engaged piers divide bays at ground and first floor levels, with banded masonry above the ground floor and cornices above both ground and first floors. A deep, plain entablature supports a parapet; the central bays have a mutuled pediment, and the end bays have miniature tower/cupola detail at the angles.

The John Street elevation, which is nine bays wide, and the Montrose Street elevation, which is 17 bays wide, both have their two southernmost bays advanced. The John Street elevation incorporates a pend entrance to 68 John Street and a later four-bay extension in red sandstone with small-pane glazing. The Montrose Street elevation has some modern box dormers. Otherwise, the flank elevations are detailed similarly to the main facade.

The interior features a symmetrical layout with heavy detailing. Red sandstone Tuscan columns and large paired staircases are prominent in the end bays, with a Perron stair in the central bay. Lowered ceilings conceal heavy mutule cornicing and coffering. Surviving features include some good panelled doors and coloured leaded glasswork. The main hall has a marble floor and a marble war memorial, while the corridors have terazzo tiled floors and the staircase walls are faience tiled.