Exchange Buildings, 43 Constitution Street, Edinburgh

Exchange Buildings, at 43 Constitution Street, Edinburgh, were constructed between 1809 and 1810 by Thomas Brown, and incorporate earlier Assembly Rooms dating from 1783. They are a large, three-storey, thirteen-bay classical building with the Assembly Rooms situated to the north.

The building is primarily cream-coloured sandstone, with polished ashlar at basement level, tooled ashlar above, and polished dressings to the front and north elevations. The north elevation features stugged ashlar, while the Assembly Rooms have coursed and squared rubble with polished ashlar dressings to the northwest and coursed rubble to the southeast. The design includes a base course, a rusticated ground floor with an impost course, a band course above the ground floor, and cill courses at the first and second floors. An eaves cornice with a blocking course completes the exterior detailing. Segmental-arched doorways, each with Doric columns and a segmental-arched fanlight (the fanlight at No. 37 features radial astragals), are a prominent feature. Round-arched windows flank the doorways at ground floor, set within recessed round-arched ashlar panels. Smaller rectangular windows are positioned at second-floor level.

The northwest elevation, facing Constitution Street, features three centre bays that project at ground floor. The central bay showcases a doorway flanked by windows, surmounted by giant Ionic columns supporting a blank frieze and pediment with a clock. Above, a tripartite window with an ashlar fanlight and a blind balustrade apron is positioned centrally, while flanking bays contain single windows set within ashlar panels bearing the gilded inscription 'Exchange Buildings'. To the left of the centre bays are two bays with a secondary doorway and single windows. To the right of the centre bays are two bays with single windows. The end pavilions are advanced, with a central bay bearing a tablet and doorway at ground floor; the 1st floor features an architraved, consoled, and pedimented window. Single windows are positioned in the outer bays, with architraved, consoled, and corniced details above.

The northeast elevation, facing Assembly Street, displays a single-bay return of the Constitution Street building with detailing resembling pavilions and single windows. To the left of this is a five-bay, two-storey section of the original Assembly Rooms (1783), featuring a three-bay hall adjacent to the Exchange Buildings. Two slightly advanced quoined bays are located to the left, incorporating a plain doorway with a rectangular fanlight incorporating radial astragals and a single window above.

The rear (southeast) elevation presents single windows to the earlier Assembly Rooms and features projections and additions relating to the Exchange Buildings.

The southwest elevation is three bays wide, with a band course above ground floor. Single windows are present at ground floor, some with relieving arches. A gabled centre bay, slightly advanced, features a corniced apex stack. A tall tripartite window with broad panelled mullions and recessed ashlar aprons occupies the first floor, alongside a round-arched fanlight, now blocked or acting as a relieving arch; an ashlar panel is situated above. Single windows are incorporated into the outer bays and blocked at second floor.

The building is fitted with timber sash and case windows, primarily featuring 12-pane or multi-pane glazing. The roof is lead with metal flashings, and includes an apex stack (as noted on the southwest elevation), wallhead, and transverse stacks.

The interior reveals a large ballroom (at No. 43), which has undergone considerable alteration, and an Adamesque plaster ceiling from the earlier Assembly Rooms that is now partially obscured by a false ceiling.