Chemistry Block, George Heriot's School, Lauriston Place, Edinburgh

The Chemistry Block at George Heriot's School in Edinburgh was designed by John Anderson in 1911. This long, symmetrical building is three stories high and has 13 bays, showcasing Scots Renaissance and Jacobean architectural styles. It features two-bay end pavilions, a central oriel window, and an arcaded ground floor that has since been filled in. The exterior is constructed from coursed sandstone ashlar, with rubble used on the sides and rear. Notable architectural details include a base course on the pavilions, a moulded dividing course between the ground and first floors, a cill course on the main block and pavilions, and a stepped parapet above the oriel that includes loopholes on the pavilions. The building also has buckle quoins and aedicular windows adorned with strapwork pediments.

On the principal elevation, the facade is regularly fenestrated, with the center bay slightly advanced. It features a two-leaf timber panelled door topped with a decorative sunburst fanlight set in a round-arched opening, which includes a bust of Heriot in the keystone. This door is flanked by fluted Ionic pilasters on pedestals and is topped with a dentilled cornice. Above this, there is a two-storey oriel window with a heraldic panel above the first-floor window and a bell-cast leaded roof.

The southeast elevation includes a timber panelled door with a six-pane fanlight, set in a moulded surround with a segmental pediment featuring strapwork decoration at the center, flanked by two windows. The first and second floors contain five windows.

The rear elevation features piend-roofed advanced outer bays with a parapet that steps at the corners and a central loophole, with a blind window to the right and four windows on the upper floor to the left. The advanced center block has a tall chimney to the right and is irregularly fenestrated.

The building is fitted with small-pane glazing in timber sash and case windows, except for the arcade. It has a piended grey slate roof and cast-iron downpipes with decorative hoppers. The south wallhead is adorned with three tall, decoratively corniced fluted chimney stacks.