Copthorne Hotel, 40 George Square, Glasgow

The Copthorne Hotel, located at 40 George Square in Glasgow, dates from around 1807-1818 and was originally built as a classical terrace for domestic use. It underwent significant alterations, including the addition of porches and a balcony around 1850, and a top floor with a mansard attic designed by James Thomson of Baird and Thomson between 1903 and 1905. A conservatory was regrettably added around 1986.

The building is rendered and lined, featuring painted rustication at the ground floor. It presents a symmetrical 21-bay façade to George Square, arranged in a pattern of 3-4-7-4-3, and consists of four storeys, a basement, and an attic. The central bays are slightly advanced, with round-arched entrances set in segmental doorpieces located in the outer bays of the central group. A pierced balcony connects the pediments above.

At the first floor, there are three architraved and pedimented windows in the centre, flanked by two round-arched panels on each side, with plain windows beyond. The original cornice is retained below the architraved attic windows, with the central three flanked by pilasters and a breaking balustrade in a round-arched panel featuring an initialled roundel. The outer bays display giant fluted composite pilasters from the original design, with pedimented and architraved windows on the first floor and a frieze of paterae below the mutule cornice, topped by an eaves balustrade. The slate mansard roof includes pedimented dormer windows.

The elevation facing North Hanover Street consists of five bays on an incline, with the three left bays featuring an Ionic doorpiece at the centre and paired windows above, although the left window is blind. Two ground floor windows have been altered to bipartite configurations.

The rear elevation is asymmetrical, with projecting rectangular stair blocks positioned off-centre to the left and right. The windows are plate glass sash and case, some with marginal glazing, and there are panelled stacks with moulded coping.