Glasgow Academy, Colebrooke Street, Glasgow

Glasgow Academy, located on Colebrooke Street in Glasgow, was designed by H and D Barclay and completed in 1878. This square, symmetrical school features Grecian details and is built on a raised podium, consisting of two storeys, attics, and a basement. The building has a seven-bay elevation arranged in a 1-5-1 pattern. It is constructed of polished ashlar, which is partly channelled at the ground level.

Wide channelled pilasters are positioned at the corners and terminal bays of the structure. A wide flight of steps leads up to the massive central block, which features pediment doorpieces with ramped architraves and a panelled wooden outer door. All windows are set in polished ashlar masonry panels, except for those at the ground floor terminal bays, which are channelled. Each window has ramped architraves and aprons. The first floor centre has five bays recessed within a hexastyle Ionic colonnade, flanked by channelled pilasters, and features plate-glass glazing with pivot windows. The building is adorned with a heavy band course over the ground level, an eaves course, and a heavy bracketed cornice. There are five flat-roofed dormers, and the roofs are covered with slate.

Inside, the academy features glazed vestibule screens with ramped and architraved doorpieces topped with stylized scroll pediments. The door panels and sidelights are made of fine acid-etched glass. Classrooms are arranged around a central well or cortile, which is enclosed by a fine cast-iron or wooden parapet balustrade. To the south on the ground floor, a massive Corinthian column screen leads to the staircase. All doors are set in ramped architraves with cornice or pediment details. On the north and south walls of the attic floor, there are war memorial panels.