Cottiers occupies the building of the 19th-century former Dowanhill Parish Church.

It was designed in the Neo-Gothic style by William Leiper, and was built between 1865 and 1866.

The foundation stone was laid on 4 August 1865 and the building was opened on 11 November 1866.

[2] The building includes a collection of notable frescoes and stained glass windows by Daniel Cottier.

[4] That same year, the church building was bought by the Four Acres Charitable Trust which converted the building into a theatre, an arts centre with a bar and restaurant.