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

The Ashworth Building, also known as the Zoology building, was designed by Robert Lorimer and John Fraser Matthew and constructed between 1927 and 1928. This two-storey teaching building features a 19-bay splayed plan and classical detailing, prominently situated at a corner site within the University of Edinburgh's King's Buildings campus. It is built from droved sandstone ashlar with harl on the south and west elevations, and includes a base course and a banded cornice with a blocking course. The façade is enhanced by giant order pilasters that separate each bay, which are channelled at the corners.

The entrance bay is accessed by semi-circular steps leading to a keystoned round arch recess framed by giant order pilasters. The doorway is architraved, with timber doors that feature bronze fittings and leaded glass panels adorned with a 'rising sun' motif. Above the door, the word 'ZOOLOGY' is inscribed, along with a panel dated '1928' that displays the University of Edinburgh shield. To the right of the entrance is a 10-bay block, while a 6-bay block is located to the left. Between the ground and first floor windows, there are cast concrete aprons, each showcasing an individual animal sculpture plaque. Additional sculptured animal plaques are positioned between the first floor windows and the cornice. The outermost three bays on either side of the entrance are slightly advanced. At the centre-rear (south) elevation, there is an octagonal-plan lecture theatre outshot. The building primarily features 4 and 8 pane steel-framed windows.

The interior was observed in 2015 and includes a central staircase with decorative wrought iron banisters and bronze handrails, complemented by bronze animal sculptures on the newel posts. There are timber fireplaces and brass fittings, such as door handles and keyhole covers. The laboratory/museum room is equipped with fitted wooden display cabinets with glass doors, timber benches and desks, and a large corniced central cupola with 12-pane lights on each face. The octagonal-plan lecture theatre is located at the centre-rear of the building.