City Chambers Glasgow building photos, William Young Architect, Date, George Square architecture
Glasgow City Chambers
Civic Building on George Square designed by William Young architect, Strathclyde, Scotland
post updated 20 July 2023 ; 10 August 2021
Address: George Square, G2 1DU
Phone: 0141 287 4018
City Chambers Glasgow
Photos from 10 Feb 2011
George Square civic building photograph © Adrian Welch
Civic building on George Square photographs © Adrian Welch
City Chambers Glasgow
Location: centre of city, near to Queen Street Station
Date: 1883-88
Architect: William Young
George Square facade + Cenotaph image © Adrian Welch
The building is in the Beaux arts style, an interpretation of Renaissance Classicism incorporating Italianate styles with a vast range of ornate decoration, used to express the wealth and industrial export-led economic prosperity of the Second City of the Empire.
George Square entry + facade images © Adrian Welch
The exterior sculpture, by James Alexander Ewing, included the central Jubilee Pediment as its centrepiece. Although originally intended to feature a figure symbolising Glasgow ‘with the Clyde at her feet sending her manufactures to all the world’, the Pediment was redesigned to celebrate Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee.
The arches onto John Street, off George Street images © Adrian Welch
It depicts Victoria enthroned, surrounded by emblematic figures of Scotland, England, Ireland and Wales, alongside the colonies of the British Empire (mostly British India). Ewing also designed the apex sculptures of Truth, Riches, and Honour, and the statues of The Four Seasons on the Chamber’s tower.
The central apex figure of Truth is popularly known as Glasgow’s Statue of Liberty, because of its close resemblance to the similarly posed, but very much larger, statue in New York harbour.
The southeast corner of this building onto John Street / George Street image © Adrian Welch
The entrance hall of the Chambers displays a mosaic of the city’s coat of arms on the floor, which dates from the 1950s when the city’s coat of arms was last modified. The arms reflect legends about Glasgow’s patron saint, Saint Mungo, and include the city’s four emblems – the bird, tree, bell, and fish.
View northwest up John Street towards Glasgow City Chambers:
View to this civic building photo © Adrian Welch
The ornate banqueting hall, which is 33.5 m (110 ft) long by 14.6 m (48 ft) wide and 15.8 m (52 ft) high. It is decorated with huge murals by the Glasgow Boys. The decoration was co-ordinated by architect William Leiper.
The Council Chamber is clad in Spanish mahogany panelling and its windows are made of Venetian stained glass.
City Chambers Extension
Location: east along George St
Architect: Watson, Salmond & Gray
Date built: 1913
The facade on George St image © Adrian Welch
Location: George Square, central Glasgow, G2 1DU, Strathclyde, southwest Scotland, UK
George Square Glasgow
George Square image © Adrian Welch
Former Glasgow Post Office building
Former GPO exterior photo © Adrian Welch
Further along George Street, opposite this civic administration extension, is Cochrane Square designed by London architecture office CZWG:
Glaswegian Building Designs
Historic Buildings close by to Glasgow City Chambers
Hutchesons’ Hall
Hutchesons’ Hall exterior photo © Adrian Welch
John Street Church
John Street Church exterior photo © Adrian Welch
Modern Buildings close by
Ingram Street Property Development
image courtesy of Artisan Real Estate
65-97 Ingram Street Glasgow
Candleriggs Square Apartments Merchant City
image courtesy of architects practice
Candleriggs Square Apartments Merchant City
Historic Glasgow : best buildings of the past
Glasgow Walking Tours – bespoke architectural city walks in Strathclyde by e-architect guides for pre-booked visiting groups.
Strathclyde Historic Buildings
Another major historic structure to visit in this city:
Glasgow School of Art – GSA Building at 167 Renfrew Street, designed by famous Scottish architect Rennie Mackintosh
photo © Adrian Welch
Glasgow School of Art
New Olympia House in Bridgeton
Glasgow Custom House Development
Comments / photos for the Glasgow City Chambers Building design by architect William Young in Strathclyde, southwest Scotland, UK, page welcome.