Trades House, 79, 81, 83, 85 Glassford Street, Glasgow

Trades House, located at 79, 81, 83, and 85 Glassford Street in Glasgow, is a classical building designed by Robert Adam and completed posthumously between 1791 and 1799. The structure features extensions at the rear by David Hamilton from 1838, and the interior was recast by James Sellar in 1887-1888. John Keppie partially or totally refaced the building in 1927 and redecorated the saloon in 1916. In 1955, extensive alterations were made, including a new trades' hall ceiling designed by Walter Underwood.

The building is two stories tall with a full attic and has a symmetrical seven-bay elevation that alternates between recessed and advanced sections. The exterior is finished in polished ashlar with a rusticated ground floor, featuring bold voussoirs above the openings. There have been various alterations to the ground floor openings, including a reduction in the size of the main door and the insertion of stained timber windows with panelled aprons. The tall first floor is distinguished by pairs of Ionic columns that support a central pediment, with three Adam-type Venetian windows in the advanced bays (which have altered glazing) and console pedimented windows in the recessed bays. The raised attic covers five inner bays and features a central parapet adorned with paterae that supports the Royal Arms. Centrally set back is a domed drum with louvred aedicules and a leaded cupola. The outer bays were raised from a single storey by Sellars in 1887. Above the pedimented windows are two bronze panels depicting gryphon-flanked vases.

The main entrance boasts a decorative mosaic floor inscribed with "Trades House." The main windows feature small-pane glazing, while the outer bays and attic have plate-glass sash cases.

Inside, the building was reconstructed by Sellars in 1887-1888. A grand staircase rises in two flights to the first floor, with fluted newels supporting bronze lamp standards and stained glass created by Sellars. The banqueting hall was remodelled by Sellars and originally featured an Adam-style ceiling, which was replaced in 1956 with an African timber ceiling and a silk frieze depicting trades at work, created between 1902 and 1903. The saloon is panelled in Spanish mahogany and has a plaster panelled ceiling, with glass by Guthrie and Wells from 1897 and an Adamesque marble chimneypiece.

Part of the ground floor has been absorbed into the adjoining bank at No. 99 Glassford Street.