The original part of the structure, which currently serves as the administrative headquarters of Dundee City Council, is Category B listed.

[1] The site occupied by the building, on the west side of North Lindsay Street, was quarried in the first half of the 19th century.

It was then reclaimed in the early 20th century for the purpose of erecting a factory for Halley Brothers, who were manufacturers of hackles, gills and pins for the textile industry.

[5] In the early 21st century, the factory was acquired by Dundee City Council with the intention of creating a new administrative headquarters to replace Tayside House.

The new structure was designed by Reiach and Hall,[9] built by Lendlease using brick piers and concrete slabs at a cost of £29 million, and was officially opened in August 2011.