Banff Academy, Institution Terrace, Banff

Banff Academy, located on Institution Terrace in Banff, was designed by William Robertson from Elgin and built between 1837 and 1838. This Neo-Greek building features a long single-storey classical frontage with 15 bays. The main east-facing elevation is constructed of sandstone ashlar, while the rear is harled. A prominent Ionic hexastyle portico with a coffered ceiling is situated at the center, featuring a door beneath a shallow pediment, with moulded jambs and single flanking windows. The wide end pavilion bays are slightly advanced, each containing a central window and coupled clasping pilasters with composite capitals. The outer pilasters return as angle pilasters, complemented by similar flanking single bay return gables. The central four windows have 6-pane glazing, which replaces the former horizontal glazing, while the other windows have renewed horizontal glazing. A deep corniced blocking course conceals the shallow piended slate roof.

Access to the portico is via a wide, shallow flight of steps, which are flanked at the top by mirrored single pedestal lamp standards. The lamp standards are set on squat, square polished ashlar margined plinths with shallow pyramidal caps.

There is a rear extension designed by A Marshall Mackenzie from Aberdeen, built in 1898 and repaired after a fire in 1921. This substantial two-storey block is harled and features tooled ashlar margins around all windows, topped with a piended slate roof.

Inside, the 1837-8 coffered ceiling remains in the center hall, which is now used as a gym. A studded curved handrail leads to the staircase serving the first floor of the rear block, while the rest of the interior has been modernized.