Scottish Widows Fund & Life Assurance, 9-10 St Andrew Square, Edinburgh

Basil Spence and Partners (work supervised by J Hardie Glover), 1956-62. 6-storey and set back attic T-plan on square base office block. Polished black granite plinth at ground, surmounted by thin glazed clerestorey strip; upper floors clad in pale Derbydene marble.

E (ENTRANCE) ELEVATION: granite steps to 2-storey entrance in antis to left of centre; stainless steel drum with revolving door set into plate glass. Plinth (ground floor) with square windows regularly spaced. Upper floors divided by glazed bands of 22 windows and by marble bands. 1st floor piano nobile with taller windows, interrupted by entrance. Pair of vertical flag poles at eaves to left. Set back attic dining room cut off to S, with copper clad roof. Set back link to Guardian Royal Exchange building (see separate listing) with entrance at ground.

S ELEVATION: blind return gable of front block to right, with 5 window rear elevation detailed as above. Rear block (downstroke of T) set back over ground floor plinth; 8 windows detailed as above; joined by recessed plate glass stair tower with horizontal glazing.

W (REAR) ELEVATION: blind face with single vertical glazed strip at centre, raised over extended plinth; door at ground.

Teak and aluminium glazing, each window with fixed and tilting panes. Flat roof, some copper cladding.

INTERIOR: very fine period interior, with furniture and fittings to suit (cast aluminium handles as used at University Library). Double height entrance hall with spiral stair encircling stainless steel circular lift, accessing self-contained boardroom suite; polished marble cladding and floors, including some Derbydene marble (as exterior). Boardrooms with leather panelled walls, timber ceilings, some built-in furniture. Secondary stairs with walls clad in tiny rough granite fillets. Corridors with lighting strips at ceiling height (as on exterior at ground). Canteen at attic level with roof terrace, and penthouse flat.