County Buildings, Aberdeen

Last updated

County Buildings, Aberdeen
Union Terrace granite glory II (geograph 4488723).jpg
22 Union Terrace
Location Union Terrace, Aberdeen
Coordinates 57°08′49″N2°06′18″W / 57.1469°N 2.1049°W / 57.1469; -2.1049 Coordinates: 57°08′49″N2°06′18″W / 57.1469°N 2.1049°W / 57.1469; -2.1049
Built1896
Architect Alexander Marshall Mackenzie
Architectural style(s) Neoclassical style
Listed Building – Category B
Official name22 Union Terrace
Designated19 March 1984
Reference no.LB19980
Listed Building – Category B
Official name20 Union Terrace
Designated19 March 1984
Reference no.LB19979
Listed Building – Category B
Official name25 Union Terrace
Designated19 March 1984
Reference no.LB19981
Aberdeen UK location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Shown in Aberdeen

County Buildings is a municipal structure in Union Terrace, Aberdeen, Scotland. The structure, which was the headquarters of Aberdeenshire County Council and was later converted for commercial use as Denburn House, comprises three separate structures all of which are Category B listed buildings. [1] [2] [3]

Contents

History

Following the implementation of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1889, which established county councils in every county, the new county leaders decided to acquire offices for Aberdeenshire County Council. [4] The site they selected, which faced Union Terrace Gardens, was developed in the late 19th century. The earliest part of the development was No. 22 Union Terrace which was designed by Alexander Marshall Mackenzie in the neoclassical style, built in granite and was completed in 1896. [1] The design involved a symmetrical main frontage with five bays facing onto Union Terrace. The ground floor, which was rusticated, featured five round headed openings with voussoirs; the first floor featured five aediculae formed by sash windows flanked by Doric order columns supporting entablatures and pediments, while the second floor featured five tripartite windows. At roof level, there was balustraded parapet. [1]

An adjacent building to the southeast, No. 20 Union Terrace, was commissioned by the local parish council. It was also designed by Mackenzie in a similar style and was completed the following year. [2] The complex was further expanded to the northwest when No. 25 Union Terrace was commissioned by The Scottish Life Assurance Company. It was designed by Sydney Mitchell and George Wilson in a similar style and completed in 1902. [3] Although the county clerk's office and the education department remained in No. 22, in due course, the county council expanded into Nos. 20 and 25 with the county treasurer's office in No. 20 and welfare, housing, sanitary and weights and measures offices in No. 25. [2] [3] The whole complex became known as "County Buildings". [5]

Following the abolition of Aberdeenshire County Council in 1975, the three buildings were made available for commercial use. In the 1980s, the complex was re-developed with a concrete framed structure erected behind the original façade and the complex was renamed Denburn House to recall the Denburn Valley in which the complex was located. [6] The complex was then acquired by a joint venture of GE Capital and Urbina in 2006 and refurbished for use by the main tenant, Lloyd's Register. [7]

After Lloyd's Register vacated the complex, a developer, Mandale Homes, secured planning consent, in April 2022, to convert it into 72 residential units, comprising 58 flats and 14 studio apartments, amidst concerns that the smaller flats would be "barely habitable". [8] [9] [10] Between 2022 and 2022, the gardens in front of the complex were extensively landscaped by Balfour Beatty on behalf of Aberdeen City Council. [11]

See also

Related Research Articles

A county hall or shire hall is a common name given to a building that houses the seat of local government for a county.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aberdeen railway station</span> Railway station in Aberdeen City, Scotland, UK

Aberdeen railway station is the main railway station in Aberdeen, Scotland. It is the busiest railway station in Scotland north of the major cities of Glasgow and Edinburgh. It is located on Guild Street in the city centre, next to Union Square.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Architecture of Aberdeen</span> Buildings in Aberdeen, Scotland (UK)

The architecture of Aberdeen, Scotland, is known for the use of granite as the principal construction material. The stone, which has been quarried in and around the city, has given Aberdeen the epithet The Granite City, or more romantically, and less commonly used, the Silver City, after the mica in the stone which sparkles in the sun.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Beach Ballroom</span> Art deco building on the beach boulevard of Aberdeen, Scotland

The Beach Ballroom is an art deco building on the beach boulevard of Aberdeen, Scotland. It is home to one of Scotland's finest dance floors – famous for its bounce – which floats on fixed steel springs. It was built in 1926, and is a Category B listed building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Smith (architect)</span> Scottish architect (1781–1852)

John Smith was a Scottish architect. His career started in 1805 and he was appointed as the official city architect of Aberdeen in 1807, the first person to hold this post. Together with Archibald Simpson, he contributed significantly to the architecture of Aberdeen, and many of the granite buildings that gave the city the nickname 'The Granite City' or also 'The Silver City' are attributed to them.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Union Bridge, Aberdeen</span> Bridge

Union Bridge is a bridge on Union Street, Aberdeen, Scotland. It is the largest single-span granite bridge in the world, at 130 feet. It was built by Thomas Fletcher under some influence from Thomas Telford. It is a Category B listed building with Historic Scotland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Triple Kirks</span> 1843 building designed for three churches

The Triple Kirks in Aberdeen, Scotland were built at the time of the Disruption of 1843 when the Free Church of Scotland split from the Church of Scotland. The three churches were all part of a single building with a tall spire but they housed separate congregations. The East Free Kirk was completed 1843 followed by the West Free Kirk and South Free Kirk early the following year. From about 1966 the building progressively fell into disuse and became mostly ruinous but with the spire remaining.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Robert Gordon Wilson (architect)</span> Scottish architect (1844–1931)

Robert Gordon Wilson (1844–1931) was a 19th/20th century Scottish architect based in Aberdeen. He was from a strong United Presbyterian background and specialised in churches for the United Presbyterian Church and Free Church of Scotland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aberdeen Town House</span> Municipal Building in Aberdeen, Scotland

Aberdeen Town House is a municipal facility in Castle Street, Aberdeen, Scotland. The town house, which is the headquarters of Aberdeen City Council, is a Category A listed building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Inverurie Town Hall</span> Municipal building in Inverurie, Scotland

Inverurie Town Hall is a municipal building in the Market Place in Inverurie, Scotland. The structure, which served as the meeting place of Inverurie Burgh Council, is a Category B listed building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Banff Town House</span> Municipal Building in Banff, Scotland

Banff Town House is a municipal building in Low Street, Banff, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. The building, which is used as a customer service point and job centre, forms part of a complex consisting of a steeple, completed in 1767, which is a Category A listed building, and a town house, completed in 1797, which is also a Category A listed building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kintore Town House</span> Municipal building in Kintore, Scotland

Kintore Town House is a municipal structure in The Square, Kintore, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. The structure, which is used as commercial offices, is a Category A listed building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stewart's Hall</span> Municipal building in Huntly, Scotland

Stewart's Hall, formerly Huntly Town Hall, is a municipal structure in Gordon Street, Huntly, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. The structure, which is used as a community events venue, is a Category C listed building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oldmeldrum Town Hall</span> Municipal building in Oldmeldrum, Scotland

Oldmeldrum Town Hall is a municipal structure in the Market Square, Oldmeldrum, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. The structure, which is used as a community events venue, is a Category B listed building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Old Sheriff Court, Glasgow</span> Judicial building in Glasgow, Scotland

The Old Sheriff Court is a former municipal and judicial building in Wilson Street, Glasgow, Scotland. The building, which is home to the Scottish Youth Theatre, is a Category B listed building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Justiciary Buildings, Glasgow</span> Judicial building in Glasgow, Scotland

The Justiciary Buildings is a judicial complex in the Saltmarket in Glasgow, Scotland. The complex, which operates in conjunction with similar facilities in Edinburgh and Aberdeen, is dedicated for the use of the High Court of Justiciary, which is the supreme criminal court in Scotland. It is a Category A listed building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Victoria and Albert Halls</span> Municipal building in Ballater, Scotland

The Victoria and Albert Halls is a complex of municipal buildings in Station Square, Ballater, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. The structure, which accommodates the new Ballater Community and Heritage Hub, is a Category C listed building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Banff Sheriff Court</span> Courthouse in Banff, Scotland

Banff Sheriff Court is a judicial structure in Low Street, Banff, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. The structure, which was the headquarters of Banffshire County Council and was also used as a courthouse, is a Category B listed building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">County Buildings, Haddington</span> Courthouse in Banff, Scotland

County Buildings is a municipal structure in Court Street, Haddington, East Lothian, Scotland. The structure, which was the headquarters of East Lothian County Council and was also used as a courthouse, is a Category B listed building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elgin Sheriff Court</span> Courthouse in Banff, Scotland

Elgin Sheriff Court is a municipal structure in the High Street, Elgin, Moray, Scotland. The structure, which was the headquarters of Morayshire County Council and remains in use as a courthouse, is a Category B listed building.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Historic Environment Scotland. "22 Union Terrace (LB19980)" . Retrieved 4 December 2022.
  2. 1 2 3 Historic Environment Scotland. "20 Union Terrace (LB19979)" . Retrieved 4 December 2022.
  3. 1 2 3 Historic Environment Scotland. "25 Union Terrace (LB19981)" . Retrieved 4 December 2022.
  4. ↑ Shennan, Hay (1892). Boundaries of Counties and Parishes in Scotland: as settled by the Boundary Commissioners under the Local Government (Scotland) Act, 1889. Edinburgh: William Green & Sons – via Internet Archive.
  5. ↑ "No. 12154". The Edinburgh Gazette . 25 June 1909. p. 685.
  6. ↑ "Denburn House, 20/25 Union Terrace, Aberdeen AB10 1NN" (PDF). NNP Paribas Real Estate. Retrieved 4 December 2022.
  7. ↑ "Denburn House, Aberdeen". Urbina. Retrieved 4 December 2022.
  8. ↑ "Denburn House: Former Aberdeen offices to be turned into 72 flats despite claims homes will be 'barely habitable'". Press and Journal. 5 April 2022. Retrieved 4 December 2022.
  9. ↑ "Aberdeen's Denburn House to be converted into flats". Scottish Construction Now. 7 April 2022. Retrieved 4 December 2022.
  10. ↑ "Historic Aberdeen city centre offices to become flats despite objections from architects". Aberdeen Live. 5 April 2022. Retrieved 4 December 2022.
  11. ↑ "Union Terrace Gardens Re-opening". 29 November 2022. Retrieved 4 December 2022.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.