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

The Scottish Widows Fund & Life Assurance building, located at 9-10 St Andrew Square in Edinburgh, was designed by Basil Spence and Partners, with supervision by J Hardie Glover, and constructed between 1956 and 1962. This six-storey office block features a T-plan layout with a set-back attic, resting on a square base. The ground floor is finished with polished black granite, topped by a thin strip of glazed clerestorey, while the upper floors are clad in pale Derbydene marble.

The entrance elevation includes granite steps leading to a two-storey entrance located to the left of the center. This entrance features a stainless steel drum with a revolving door set into plate glass. The ground floor has a plinth with square windows that are regularly spaced. The upper floors are divided by glazed bands containing 22 windows and marble bands. The first floor, which serves as the piano nobile, has taller windows that are interrupted by the entrance. There are also a pair of vertical flag poles at the eaves to the left. The set-back attic houses a dining room with a copper-clad roof and is connected to the Guardian Royal Exchange building through a set-back link that has an entrance at ground level.

The south elevation shows a blind return gable of the front block to the right, with a rear elevation featuring five windows detailed similarly to the front. The rear block, which forms the downstroke of the T, is set back over the ground floor plinth and has eight windows. It is connected to a recessed plate glass stair tower with horizontal glazing.

The west elevation is a blind face with a single vertical glazed strip at the center, raised over an extended plinth, and includes a door at ground level. The windows are made of teak and aluminium, each featuring fixed and tilting panes. The building has a flat roof, with some areas clad in copper.

Inside, the building boasts a very fine period interior, complete with furniture and fittings that match the design, including cast aluminium handles similar to those used at the University Library. The double-height entrance hall features a spiral stair that encircles a stainless steel circular lift, providing access to a self-contained boardroom suite. The interior includes polished marble cladding and floors, including some Derbydene marble. The boardrooms have leather-panelled walls and timber ceilings, along with some built-in furniture. Secondary stairs have walls clad in tiny rough granite fillets, and the corridors are illuminated by lighting strips at ceiling height, mirroring the exterior design. The attic level includes a canteen with a roof terrace and a penthouse flat.