Joseph Black Building, University Of Edinburgh, King's Buildings, David Brewster Road, Edinburgh

The Joseph Black Building, located within the University of Edinburgh’s King’s Buildings on David Brewster Road, is a chemistry building constructed between 1920 and 1924, with a second-storey addition completed in 1950. The original design was by Arthur Balfour Paul of Rowand Anderson and Paul, with John F Matthew of Lorimer and Matthew responsible for the construction. William Hardie Kininmonth of Rowand Anderson, Kininmonth and Paul subsequently designed the later addition. The building is symmetrical in design, presenting as a rectangular block of 11 bays and two storeys, featuring classical detailing. It is constructed of red brick with dressings of red sandstone.

The north elevation, which serves as the main entrance, is distinguished by an advanced central bay surmounted by a pediment. The elaborate doorcase beneath is itself pedimented, incorporating a pair of timber panelled doors flanked by consoles supporting an open pediment. This pediment holds the University of Edinburgh crest within a carved leaf surround. Above the door, a corniced parapet forms a balcony in front of a round-arched single window at the first floor, which has an oval light with relief carvings of laurels in its tympanum. The outer bays of the north facade are also advanced, framed by pilasters. Metal aprons subdivide the windows between floors, with sculptural motifs by Alexander Carrick incorporated into the outermost aprons.

The 22-bay east elevation features segmental arched windows to the ground floor. A sandstone blocking course, emblazoned with “Edinburgh University Department of Chemistry,” sits atop the cornice. A band course clearly delineates the 1950 addition. Single windows are present on both the ground and first floors, as well as in the basement. The eighth bay from the right features flanking lights and a coped balcony. A more advanced five-bay section is located to the left, again featuring a carved sandstone shield, escutcheon, and swags in the centre. The west elevation, with 23 bays, predominantly has single windows; sandstone lintels are present above the ground floor windows, while the first floor windows have voussoirs. The windows are now uPVC double-glazed replacements. Cast iron rainwater goods are visible.

The interior, inspected in 2015, reveals a double-height reception hall with classical detailing. Features include twin, square-plan columns, a curvilinear pedimented timber doorpiece, moulded wall panels, decorative cornices, and a segmental arch part-gallery at first floor level overlooking the main entrance hall. The doors to corridors and laboratories are mostly timber, with glass panels in the upper sections. Red glazed tiles line the lower sections of the corridor walls.