Glasgow College Of Building And Printing, North Hanover Street, Glasgow

Wylie, Shanks & Underwood (see Notes), 1958-1964; with podium/millennium block by Wylie, Shanks & Partners 1969. 13-storey with rooftop plant, 24-bay, hexagonal-plan, flat-roofed, horizontally-proportioned tower block with Le Corbusier elements of pilotis, sculptural rooftop gymnasium and plant. Reinforced concrete frame on exposed aggregate pilotis, Italian Travertine marble slabs and vitrolite. Later low single storey and raised basement podium block to N with reflective glazing and deep roof panels.

S (ENTRANCE) ELEVATION: 7 massive pilotis to ground floor with huge cantilevered concrete canopy over entrance to left of centre. 13 identical floors above with banded curtain wall of black vitrolite band and deep windows moving subtly toward centre 'V' projection and surmounted by deep lighter marble band forming parapet. Grid glazing pattern of 2 square panes below large upper pane in metal frames.

N ELEVATION: as S above ground but with some taller bays toward centre of 3rd, 4th and 5th floors (making 2 floors). Podium/Millenium block (see below) projecting at ground.

E AND W ELEVATIONS: blank face of marble blocks in 3 vertical courses punctuated by narrow horizontal band.

ROOFTOP STRUCTURES: rectangular-plan, wishbone-shaped former gymnasium to E, on E-W axis. Concrete structures to centre and W (see Notes). Later altered to accommodate a shed for telecommunications equipment (post 2002).

INTERIOR: little structural alteration to tower interior arrangement, with partitions retained much as original. All doors above ground level of tower subsequently replaced, some with like-for-like replacement glazed timber. Original terrazzo lined staircase with timber handrail set into marble-clad baluster; 3 original lifts. Flying staircase with concrete spine, timber treads and timber an steel balustrade between 13th and 14th floors. All other linings and finishings above ground level are non-original. Foyer has flooring of grey and black marble slabs, pine lined ceiling and wall linings of pine, black vitrolite and natural stone, all original. 2 original glazed partitions to the E of foyer have been removed and the foyer extended to the E to incorporate the service lift, formerly external. The reception desk has been modified (post-2002) with a new curved fronted counter.

Some old printing machines retained on 10th floor.

PODIUM/MILLENNIUM BLOCK: low block to N with vertically-aligned reflective glazing, deep jettied roof panels and flat roof. Entrance to E with broad scale-and-platt concrete steps.

Interior: completely refurbished 1994.