Designating Gray's School of Art (Robert Gordon University)

Overview

We propose to designate Gray's School of Art at Robert Gordon University as a listed building.

Gray's School of Art is a Modernist higher education (art school) building, in the ‘Miesian’ style designed by the architect Denis Michael Alastair Shewan of Scott Sutherland and Partners between 1962 and 1968. The school is set on a steeply sloping site within a wider woodland setting, overlooking the River Dee. It is located on the outskirts of Aberdeen and to the west boundary of the Robert Gordon University Garthdee campus.

Constructed during renewal and expansion of Robert Gordon University, Gray's School of Art is part of the comprehensive development of Scotland’s universities, in line with the wider expansion of the higher education sector in the United Kingdom during the 1960s. The building is a fine example of Modernist architecture in Scotland with its characteristic horizontal design and modern materials of glass, steel and concrete. Its Modernist credentials are likewise found in the way the design responds directly to its natural environment. The building is also a rare example of Miesian-inspired Modernist architecture in Scotland.

We are now gathering views on our proposal to list the building at category B.

Read more about why we think the building meets the criteria for listing by downloading our report.

Gray's School of Art building © Historic Environment Scotland

How we designate listed buildings

We list buildings of special architectural or historic interest. A dedicated team researches and assesses all designation applications.

You can find out more about listed buildings in the Advice and Support section of the Historic Environment Scotland website, and read our Designation Policy and Selection Guidance (2019).

To merit listing, the structure must meet set listing criteria.

Find out about the listing process.

Why your views matter

We’d like to know whether you agree with our proposal.

To help you respond to the following survey, please read why we think Gray's School of Art meets the criteria for listing in the Report of Handling.

You can tell us if you agree with our proposal by completing the short questionnaire below.

This questionnaire usually takes 5-10 minutes to complete.

Find out what comments we consider and what happens next in our consultation guide or watch our designations video on YouTube.

You can also watch a version of this video in British Sign Language.