Dundee House

Present headquarters of Dundee City Council

56°27′37″N 2°58′32″W / 56.4603°N 2.9756°W / 56.4603; -2.9756Current tenantsDundee City CouncilCompleted1911OwnerDundee City CouncilDesign and constructionArchitect(s)Harry Thomson (original) / Reiach and Hall (redevelopment)
Listed Building – Category B
Official name38 North Lindsay Street, 8-12 (Even Nos) South Ward Road, Former Halley Brothers' WorksDesignated30 March 1995Reference no.LB25489

Dundee House is a municipal building in North Lindsay Street in Dundee, Scotland. The original part of the structure, which currently serves as the administrative headquarters of Dundee City Council, is Category B listed.[1]

History

The North Lindsey Street frontage

The site occupied by the building, on the west side of North Lindsay Street, was quarried in the first half of the 19th century. It was then reclaimed in the early 20th century for the purpose of erecting a factory for Halley Brothers, who were manufacturers of hackles, gills and pins for the textile industry.[2][3]

The building was designed by Harry Thomson, built in sandstone and was completed in 1911. It was later used as a printing works for DC Thomson.[4] The design involved a symmetrical main frontage of 15 bays facing onto North Lindsey Street. There were a series of openings on the ground floor, while the first floor was fenestrated by a series of tri-partite mullioned windows interspersed with Diocletian windows. The second and third floors were fenestrated entirely by tri-partite mullioned windows.[5]

In the early 21st century, the factory was acquired by Dundee City Council with the intention of creating a new administrative headquarters to replace Tayside House.[6][7][8] A new structure, consisting of three six-storey interconnected blocks, was erected behind the original structure. The new structure was designed by Reiach and Hall,[9] built by Lendlease using brick piers and concrete slabs at a cost of £29 million, and was officially opened in August 2011.[10][11]

The project won two prestigious architecture awards: a Royal Institute of British Architects award for architectural excellence and the best commercial office/building or project outside London in the Roses Design Awards.[12]

References

  1. ^ Historic Environment Scotland. "38 North Lindsay Street, 8-12 (Even Nos) South Ward Road, Former Halley Brothers' Works (LB25489)". Retrieved 8 April 2024.
  2. ^ Lenman, Bruce; Lythe, Charlotte; Gauldie, Enid (1969). "Dundee and Its Textile Industry 1850–1914" (PDF). Abertay Historical Society. p. 50.
  3. ^ "Dundee Post Office Directory". James P. Mathew & Co. 1898. p. 22.
  4. ^ "Dundee House unwrapped". Urban Realm. 24 May 2011. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
  5. ^ Historic Environment Scotland. "Dundee, 50 North Lindsay Street, Dundee House (185453)". Canmore. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
  6. ^ "Time running out for 'least liked' building Tayside House". The Courier. 17 August 2011. Archived from the original on 9 July 2014. Retrieved 6 July 2014.
  7. ^ Copland, Bryan (29 October 2013). "Dundee council may cash in on moving staff". Evening Telegraph. Archived from the original on 8 July 2014. Retrieved 6 July 2014.
  8. ^ "North Lindsay Street Development Brief" (PDF). Dundee City Council. 28 June 2004. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
  9. ^ "Dundee House, New Administrative Headquarters of Dundee City Council". Archived from the original on 10 July 2014. Retrieved 6 July 2014.
  10. ^ "Dundee House". Architects Journal. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
  11. ^ "Dundee House: Construction tender and total cost" (PDF). Dundee City Council. 27 April 2009. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
  12. ^ "Dundee House wins Royal Institute of British Architects award". The Courier. 22 June 2012. Archived from the original on 9 July 2014. Retrieved 6 July 2014.

56°27′37″N 2°58′32″W / 56.4603°N 2.9756°W / 56.4603; -2.9756