The "soaring, surging verticals " of Alexander Marshall Mackenzie's "Tudor Gothic" facade of Marischal College is an outstanding example of Aberdeen's granite architecture. The South front, an extremely ornate version of Edwardian Perpendicular, is 127 metres long and 16 metres high with serried ranks of buttresses transfixed by an improbable skyline of granite finials, crockets and fretwork. It represents the "most intricate sculpturing of granite ever attempted". The South facade fronts an earlier quadrangle designed by Archibald Simpson (ca 1837) of two storeys with a three storey central tower. This tower, the Mitchell Tower, was more than doubled in height by Mackenzie (ca 1893) who added a tall, airy lantern which rises to about 50 metres with a profusion of spirelets that still dominates Aberdeen's skyline. Beneath the tower is the ship-like Graduation Hall with an excellent East window which traces the history of the University. The South front, the Mitchell Hall and Tower were opened in 1906 by HRH Edward VII to mark the University's 400th anniversary. The city celebrated for four days with decorations, illuminations, balls and receptions.

The site of the College, founded in 1593, was formerly occupied by a Franciscan Priory which was disestablished during the Reformation of 1560. One of the more notable occupants of Marischal College was James Clerk Maxwell, a former Physics Professor, judged to be surplus to requirements when the College was almalgamated with King's College to form the University of Aberdeen. The South Front was built over the house formerly occupied by Byron during his childhood. The College, the world's largest intact and inhabited granite building, may also soon be surplus to requirements. Plans are afoot to set aside 400 years of academic history and it may well become a hotel, a theme park or even a Top Shopping mall. The magnificent South Front could even be covered in concrete cladding in order to match the monstrous council building that dominates the opposite side of Broad Street.