Administration Building, Ayrshire Central Hospital, Kilwinning Road, Irvine

The Administration Building, Maternity Residences and paired gate lodges form part of a wider hospital complex designed in 1935 in the International Modern style by the Ayrshire County Architect's Office. The design is attributed to William Reid, County Architect at the time, though Robert Lindsay likely contributed. The buildings are detached and largely similar in design and scale, with flat roofs, smooth rendered white walls over red brick plinths, and minimalist Art Deco details.

The Administration Building was designed in 1935 and opened in 1941, originally serving as the Infectious Diseases Hospital. It was refurbished in 2009. The building has a U-shaped plan arranged around a rectangular courtyard, comprising three symmetrical interlinking blocks. The outer blocks to the north and south are two- and three-storeys respectively, with matching elevations and plan forms. The main elevations are framed by curved stair towers breaking through the eaves and projecting five-bay end wings. The rear elevations are abutted by two deeply projecting returns, creating a U-plan courtyard with an arcaded ground floor to the central section. The returns to the southern block are terminated by concrete escape stairs. The central block to the west is single-storey with a double-height central range lit by clerestory windows. It connects to adjoining blocks via recessed and angled link corridors. The central entrance porch displays the Arms of the County Council of Ayr breaking the eaves.

Flat roofs are concealed behind projecting parapets. Window openings are predominantly square-headed with plain surrounds, thin rendered or tiled cills and lying-pane replacement timber casements. Projecting porches with stepped square-headed ingoes occur throughout.

Internal public areas comprise offices with medical facilities in the northern two-storey block. The outer blocks contain small rooms on either side of long central corridors connecting with the central block. Internal corridors are functional with terrazzo floors, plain walls and ceilings, and original cast iron radiators. Some original timber doors with lying-pane wired glazing and brass fittings survive. Stairs are concrete and terrazzo with curved half-landings and continuous central baluster. The central block features a mosaic of the Arms of the County Council of Ayr inset into the floor. The former dining and recreation hall in the central block has been altered in recent years with low-level partitions and a screen of glazed shutters inserted into the former stage area, but the original hall remains legible with original coffered ceiling, fluted pilasters, deep moulded cornicing and the Arms of the County Council of Ayr.

The Maternity Residences were designed in 1935 and opened in 1944, along with the now-demolished Maternity Hospital. The linear plan comprises three symmetrical interlinking blocks mirroring the Administration Building layout. The outer blocks to the east and west are three- and two-storeys respectively, with matching elevations and plan forms. The front (north) elevations are framed by curved stair towers breaking through the eaves and projecting end wings. The rear elevations are abutted by two deeply projecting returns, creating a U-plan courtyard with an arcaded ground floor to the central section. The returns to the eastern block are terminated by concrete escape stairs. The central block is single-storey with a double-height range to the rear lit by clerestory windows, connected to adjoining blocks via recessed link corridors.

Flat roofs are concealed behind projecting parapets. Window openings are predominantly square-headed with plain surrounds and thin rendered or tiled cills. The openings were largely concealed behind metal sheeting or plywood, though some lying-pane timber casements were visible. Projecting porches with stepped square-headed ingoes occur throughout.

The northern gate lodges, designed in 1935, are paired and flank the main entrance from Kilwinning Road. They are largely similar in style to the main blocks but have piended roofs with red clay tiles and shed dormer windows. The symmetrical front elevations are three-bays with a projecting central porch with stepped ingoes breaking the eaves. The northern lodge has a two-bay extension to the west dating from the later 20th century. These lodges were refurbished around 2009 when windows were replaced. The interior of the southern lodge is functional and similar in character to that of the Administration Building, retaining no features of note.

The southern gate lodges, designed in 1935, are paired and flank the southwest entrance from Kilwinning Road. They are largely similar in style to the main blocks but have piended roofs with red clay tiles. The symmetrical front elevations are three-bays with a projecting central porch with stepped ingoes breaking the eaves.