Designed in 1938 by TS Cordiner and not generally included on recognised tourist or architectural trails, Notre Dame High School is nonetheless well worth a visit by the discerning building-lover interested in what has been described as the best example of functional Scandinavian influence in Glasgow.
Elizabeth Williamson, in her book Glasgow describes the building thus: Skilful use of narrow bricks, concrete and ashlar, with minute attention to detail and excellent sculpture on the tall main entrance pavilion and scattered randomly over the other elevations. At the rear, a free-standing niche with a figure of Our Lady. The main front is dominated by the emphatic entrance tower with pitched tile roof supporting an elaborate plinth and cross.
Consciously asymmetrical gable ends with witty connotations of the Arts and Crafts movement. Every aspect of the design has received careful attention, from the handsome entrance to the cleverly contrived rear access steps, with fragile curved canopy, and the bicycle shelter. Within, the planning is functional but with decorative ironwork in screens to the stairs and in the practical door furniture.
Since its completion in 1953 at a total cost of 142,000 (work was suspended from 1941-49 on account of the War), the school has evolved over the years to meet the shifting needs of a changing education system. Yet the introduction of computers or additional buildings for extra accommodation has been done sympathetically and has not detracted from the integrity of the buildings basic design. Many of the original internal features tiles to dado level, floor tiles, walnut panelling have been retained, again maintaining the integrity of the original design.
Other details to look out for include: stairs with Mackintosh style baluster-screen, entrance doorway in ashlar surround with carved panels, tripartite door with glazed sidelights, various carved and bas relief panels on the exterior walls, windows set in ashlar panels, concrete band courses to all sills and lintels, paved terraces to N and W with boundary and retaining wall of brick and concrete coping, brick gatepiers with concrete coping, cast iron gates.
Notre Dame is a building patently well suited to its purpose, with its clean lines and practical layout, but it is surely raised above the level of the merely functional by that meticulous attention to detail which has already been noted and which will amply reward the equally meticulous visitor who takes the trouble to seek out its unpretentious charms.
Having enjoyed the architecture and decorations, why not climb right up to the library at the very top of the building and experience the magnificent view over Glasgow to the hills beyond. (Notre Dame was built on the site of the old Glasgow University Observatory.) And perhaps while you are there you might ponder the words of the Lord Provost, Thomas Kerr, at the opening ceremony in October 1953:
"If ever a building were erected to stimulate your imagination and give you true vision, this is one."