Marischal College has stood on Broad Street for nearly two centuries as one of Aberdeen's most recognisable landmarks. The building now serves as the headquarters of Aberdeen City Council, continuing its role at the centre of the city's public life.
From University Origins to Civic Hub
Marischal College was founded in 1593 by George Keith, the 5th Earl Marischal of Scotland. Its formal name was "Marischal College and University of Aberdeen," and it was established as the second of Scotland's post-medieval civic universities, created without a Papal bull. The institution was founded with the expressed aim of training clergy for the post-Reformation Kirk.
In 1860, Marischal College merged with King's College under the terms of the Universities (Scotland) Act 1858 to form the University of Aberdeen. The merged institution brought together the two historic colleges under a single university charter.
A Granite Masterpiece
The building that dominates Broad Street today was constructed between 1837 and 1844 by the Aberdeen architect Archibald Simpson. It was substantially extended between 1893 and 1905 by Alexander Marshall Mackenzie. The structure is executed in the Gothic Revival style and is widely described as the second-largest granite building in the world.
The facade displays the characteristic silver-grey Aberdeen granite that has given the city its architectural identity. Ornate detailing, heraldic carvings, and the imposing mass of the structure make it a defining feature of the city centre streetscape.
The 2011 Transformation
The University of Aberdeen leased the Marischal College site to Aberdeen City Council for 175 years in exchange for £4.7 million. The building has served as the council's headquarters since 2011.
Renovation work began in 2009, and the newly refurbished building opened in the summer of 2011. The internal spaces were completely demolished and replaced with a new internal structure, while the renovations restored the granite exterior, ornamentation, and detailing. The project preserved the historic facade while adapting the interior for modern civic use.
A Shared Heritage
Although the council now occupies the building as corporate office space with public access to services, the University of Aberdeen has retained the Mitchell Hall and other significant parts of the structure for its own use, including museum stores. This shared arrangement reflects the building's dual identity as both a working civic centre and a piece of the city's academic heritage.
Marischal College remains a fixture of daily life in Aberdeen. Whether viewed by commuters passing along Broad Street or visited by residents accessing council services, the building continues to function as a practical public resource while maintaining its status as one of the city's most distinctive architectural monuments.