5 Blackfriars Street, Glasgow

1-3 Blackfriars Street in Glasgow is a classically detailed terrace of tenements designed by architect A B MacDonald from the office of Public Works for the City Improvement Trust, built between 1891 and 1893. The building stands five storeys high, featuring three bays facing High Street and seven bays on Blackfriars Street, with an asymmetrical yet regularly arranged design. The exterior is finished in polished ashlar stone, with modern shops at the ground level.

The Blackfriars Street elevation has pilasters that clasp the corners, with paired pilasters at the angles and center. These are channelled on the first floor, with giant Corinthian pilasters on the second and third floors, and panelled pilasters on the fourth. On the High Street side, giant order engaged columns flank the center bay on the second and third floors. All windows are architraved, consoled, and pedimented on the second floor. The windows on Blackfriars Street are single light, while the outer bays on High Street feature bipartite windows. All windows have modern pivot glazing and plate glass in a two-pane pattern.

There is a string course above the first floor and at the cills of the second and third floors, with a cornice above the third floor and at the eaves, leading to corner bays with a die balustraded parapet. The building is topped with tall corniced wallhead stacks and has a modern tile roof.