McMillan Round Reading Room, University of Glasgow



Architect
T Harold Hughes and D S R Waugh
Date Built
1936 - 1939
Location
University Avenue, Glasgow G12 8QF
Description
The McMillan Reading room was named in honour of University of Gl;asgow benefactors, Robert and Edith McMillan.  The building has a Category A listing in Scotland and was awarded the RIBA bronze medal in 1950 as the best building erected in Scotland between 1936 and 1949.  The universities website says that, "... The monumental circular domed building is meant to be a modern interpretation of the Pantheon in Rome."



The listing information describes the building as of, ".... Reinforced concrete, clad between bands in yellow machine-made narrow 'Roman' yellow brick. Continuous stepped plinth. .... Narrow, vertically linked windows with band between and dripmoulds, set in advanced panels."




"... stepped entrance bay with simple doorpiece and 2-leaf doors at head of stair with graduated parapet walls, vertical glazing above; swept brass handles to glazed timber doors."





The library was built on the site of New Hillhead House gifted to the University in 1917 by the family of Walter MacLellan of Blairvaddick. A bust of Walter MacLellan sits inside the Reading Room.







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