Description

J M Dick Peddie and George Washington Browne, 1897-8; alterations and extension Michael Laird & Partners, 1982. Red sandstone ashlar substantial 3-storey basement and attic, 5-bay neo-Jacobean insurance office, on corner site falling away to N.

S (ST ANDREWS SQUARE) ELEVATION: symmetrical. 7 bays at ground articulated by panelled Ionic pilasters and full entablature; arched openings with keystones; doorway framed by free-standing Ionic columns, with enriched spandrels and projecting entablature with SCOTTISH EQUITABLE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY carved in frieze, solid parapet; outer right bay with enriched spandrels. Upper floors 5-bay (outer bays double width) with giant order of panelled Corinthian pilasters, full entablature with heavy modillioned cornice. At 1st floor, corniced windows with 2 sets of transoms; 4-light to centre and outer bays, 2-light to inner bays. At 2nd floor, windows with single transom; 3-light to centre and outer bays, 2-light to inner bays. Attic with substantial shaped Dutch gables with segmental pediments at apex to centre and outer bays, joined by open balustrades.

ST ANDREW STREET ELEVATION: stands on battered basement. 3 left bays similar to above with pair of gables. 10-bay range to right with mullion and transomed windows; range of superimposed orders; no gables but row of skylights.

Return gable with pilastered doorway at ground. Rebuilt to rear.

Plate glass timber casement windows. Ashlar coped skews; corniced ashlar stacks; grey slates.

INTERIOR: entrance and boardrooms only survive, modern offices created in remainder. Revolving door to square 3-bay arcaded Italian Renaissance marble hall, of contrasting green and veined marbles; alabaster Composite capitals, mirrored infills to arcade; columnar screen to Jacobean panelled scale and platt stair with strapwork newels, 1st flight of marble treads; trabeated ceiling with modillioned cornice; black and white marble floor; panelled window bay; brass planters. Large room to W at front with trabeated ceiling, and smaller room to E corner. At 1st floor, arched screen at landing to central lobby with panelled dado and pilastered white marble chimneypiece, separating Boardroom and Dining Room. Boardroom half panelled with compartmentalised plaster ceiling; 2-tier timber chimneypiece with Ionic columns, bolection moulded marble surround and polished steel grate. Dining Room virtually identical.

BALUSTRADE: ashlar balustrade to basement area, articulated by panelled piers.

Statement of Interest

Michael Laird & Partners used a similar policy of retaining the principal spaces at 3 George Street for Standard Life (see separate listing).

Statutory address updated from '28 St Andrew Square with Balustrading, Scottish Equitable' to '28 St Andrew Square with Balustrading and 1 North St Andrew Lane', 2013.

External Links

• Historic Environment Scotland Listing
• Wikidata Q17569469

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

Recommended Books

• 
  Kent: West and the Weald: The Buildings of England (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990
• 
  Northumberland (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Historic Environment Law: Planning, Listed Buildings, Monuments, Conservation Areas and Objects, Supplement 2014
• 
  Maintaining and Repairing Old Houses: A Guide to Conservation, Sustainability and Economy
• 
  Derbyshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)