Ashworth Building (Zoology), University Of Edinburgh, King's Buildings, Charlotte Auerbach Road, Edinburgh

Robert Lorimer and John Fraser Matthew, 1927-28; sculptural relief by Phyllis Bone. 2-storey, 19-bay, splayed-plan teaching building with classical detail, prominently located at corner site at the University of Edinburgh's 'King's Buildings' campus. Droved sandstone ashlar with harl to south and west elevations. Base course and banded cornice with blocking course. Giant Order (2-storey) pilasters separating each bay, channelled at corners.

Semi-circular steps to entrance bay with keystoned round arch recess framed by Giant Order (2-storey) pilasters. The doorway is architraved and the timber doors have bronze fittings and leaded glass panels with 'rising sun' motif. 'ZOOLOGY' is inscribed above the door and a panel dated '1928' with the University of Edinburgh shield. There is a 10-bay block to the right and a 6-bay block to the left of the entrance. There are cast concrete aprons between the ground and first floor windows, each displaying an individual animal sculpture plaque. Further sculptured animal plaques are located between the first floor windows and the cornice. The outermost 3-bays to either side are advanced slightly. There is an octagonal-plan lecture theatre outshot to the centre-rear (south) elevation. The building has predominantly 4 and 8 pane steel-framed windows.

The interior was seen in 2015. The central staircase has decorative wrought iron banisters with bronze handrails and bronze animal sculptures to the newel posts. There are timber fireplaces and brass fittings including door handles and keyhole covers. The laboratory/museum room has fitted wooden display cabinets with glass doors, timber benches and desks, and a large corniced central cupola, with 12-pane lights to each face, to the ceiling. There is an octagonal-plan lecture theatre to the centre-rear of the building.