Dundee House Explained

Dundee House
Building Type:Office block
Owner:Dundee City Council
Current Tenants:Dundee City Council
Location:Dundee
Address:50 North Lindsay Street, Dundee, DD1 1QE
Location Town:Dundee
Location Country:Scotland
Coordinates:56.4603°N -2.9756°W
Completion Date:1911
Architect:Harry Thomson (original) / Reiach and Hall (redevelopment)

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.

History

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.[1] [2]

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.[3] 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.

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.[4] [5] [6] 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,[7] built by Lendlease using brick piers and concrete slabs at a cost of £29 million, and was officially opened in August 2011.[8] [9]

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.[10]

References

56.4603°N -2.9756°W

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Dundee and Its Textile Industry 1850–1914. 50. Bruce. Lenman. Charlotte. Lythe. Enid. Gauldie. Abertay Historical Society. 1969.
  2. Web site: Dundee Post Office Directory. 1898. James P. Mathew & Co.. 22.
  3. News: Dundee House unwrapped. 24 May 2011. Urban Realm. 8 April 2024.
  4. News: Time running out for 'least liked' building Tayside House. 17 August 2011. 6 July 2014. The Courier. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20140709072317/http://www.thecourier.co.uk/news/local/dundee/time-running-out-for-least-liked-building-tayside-house-1.46242. 9 July 2014.
  5. News: Copland. Bryan. Dundee council may cash in on moving staff. 29 October 2013. 6 July 2014. Evening Telegraph. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20140708202439/http://www.eveningtelegraph.co.uk/news/local/dundee-council-may-cash-in-on-moving-staff-1.146411. 8 July 2014.
  6. Web site: North Lindsay Street Development Brief. Dundee City Council. 28 June 2004. 8 April 2024.
  7. Web site: Dundee House, New Administrative Headquarters of Dundee City Council. 6 July 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140710133738/https://www.rias.org.uk/directory/practices/reiach-and-hall/dundee-house-new-administrative-headquarters-of-dundee-city-council/. 10 July 2014 . dead.
  8. Web site: Dundee House. Architects Journal. 8 April 2024.
  9. Web site: Dundee House: Construction tender and total cost. Dundee City Council. 27 April 2009. 8 April 2024.
  10. News: Dundee House wins Royal Institute of British Architects award. 22 June 2012. 6 July 2014. The Courier. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20140709064240/http://www.thecourier.co.uk/news/local/dundee/dundee-house-wins-royal-institute-of-british-architects-award-1.52744. 9 July 2014.