Natural Philosophy Department, University Of Edinburgh, Drummond Street, Edinburgh

The Natural Philosophy Department at the University of Edinburgh is a former hospital building designed by David Bryce between 1848 and 1853, with a reconstructed north wing added by Rowand Anderson & Balfour Paul from 1905 to 1907. This near-symmetrical, two-storey structure features a mezzanine, basement, and attic, arranged in a T-plan with 13 bays. It has a lower projecting wing to the west and includes a round-arched carriage pend in the northern wing. The building is situated on sloping ground, resulting in five storeys at the rear. It is constructed from squared and snecked, droved sandstone with raised ashlar margins, band courses, a cornice, and raised long and short quoins. The roof features pedimented wallhead dormers with flanking scrolls and a centrally placed balustraded square-plan tower at the rear.

The entrance elevation to the south has slightly advanced central three-bay and outer two-bay sections. A central platt oversailing the basement leads to a pedimented Doric doorpiece, which includes a two-leaf glass and timber entrance door topped with a three-light fanlight. Above this, there is a pedimented and Doric pilastered armorial panel supported by scrolls, with ball finials and a metal weathervane at the apex.

Inside, as of 2007, the building has been largely altered for office accommodation but retains some fine features. There is timber panelling in the entrance hall, a wide open-well stone staircase with metal balusters, and small round-arched niche washbasins on each floor. The large lecture theatre is equipped with timber seating, and there is a timber-panelled library featuring a mezzanine and timber fire surrounds. A linking corridor on the first storey connects to the Archaeology Department to the north.

The building predominantly features 12-pane timber sash and case windows, with a mixture of flat, gable, and piended roofs covered in grey slates. Coped gable and wallhead stacks are present, along with cast iron rainwater goods that include some decorative hoppers.

To the south, there is a row of spear-headed railings with a pair of tall, decorative lamp standards at the entrance platt.