Exterior
Portland stone, Beaux-Arts classical style with Greek details; rear elevation in palazzo idiom. Facade of one storey with continuous entablature, and attic, advanced outer bays. Wide flight of granite steps leads up to broad 5-bay portico of coupled giant Corinthian columns (cf St Paul's Cathedral). Entrance wall deeply recessed; doorway with architrave and sliding bronze doors; to each side windows
Mezzanine windows with metal glazing. Above portico, balustraded parapet with windows behind. Main steps flanked at podium level by monumental groups of sculpture by Albert Hodge; to L, (representing mining) Minerva and female figure receiving offering of coal from heroic miners, to R, (representing Navigation) Neptune in chariot drawn by seahorses. At top of steps, 2 stone obelisks bearing bronze lamps. To either side of portico, a projecting pilastered end pavilion of 1 bay, window with balcony, relief obelisks to attic storey. Against each return, 1 storey entrance loggia with arches with iron gates to front, tripartite arched openings to sides, paterae to spandrels, balustrade with lion balusters, iron grille to windows over.
Side elevations have towards rear, arched opening with relief heads to keystones, 2-level window and balcony; 6 windows to E, 3 to W. Rear elevation of 9 windows, 4 storeys, ie basement and 2 storeys plus attic above deep cornice, steeply pitched green slate roof with Portland stone chimneys with lion head reliefs. Squarish windows to attic and upper floor; main floor rectangular windows have bracketed hoods, central window emphasized by shallow bay with trophy and obelisks over. This floor has balcony running full width of facade, supported on deep paired scroll brackets over basement with segmentally-headed windows, and broader central doorway. To each end, wing wall with archway with iron gates, statue of cherub (by Arthur Broadbent).
Extension of 1932 in sympathetic style, and same materials to SW, to rear of the University Registry, connected to main building by bridge. In simplified version of style of rear elevation of main building. Three storeys over rusticated basement, banded quoins, deep cornice; small-pane metal glazing. Principal elevation to rear, facing North Road, of 12 windows, with central archway (to inner courtyard) with stepped voussoirs, galzed tympanum, decorative iron gates. On ground floor, 2nd and 11th windows have bracketed pediments and shallow balconies. Side elevations of 10 windows. Courtyard faced with yellow brick, (rear of E block extended 1950s, and modern prefabricated infill offices).