The Egyptian Halls

[2] Work started on the Egyptian Halls in March 1870 to provide new commercial premises for James Robertson, an iron manufacturer, and was completed in 1872.

The building broke many of the rules of the time; thick stone columns normally found at ground level were on the top floor.

[3] Instead, it is more closely modelled on Greek classical architecture, in particular the Corinthian order of the Tower of the Winds in Athens, which was Thomson's ideal of design.

[3] It is speculated that it takes its title from the earlier Egyptian Hall in Piccadilly, London, which was the precursor for the large multi-purpose commercial premises of Thomson's building.

[8] In July 2000, Dundee businessman Derek Souter and his company Union Street Developments (USD) acquired a stake in the property and announced plans to restore it,[8] but funding problems led to further delays.

In January 2003, Glasgow City Council bought the building just before its CPO was due to expire in the hope that USD would find the funding to complete the restoration.

[11] Planning approval and listed building consent was given for a scheme which has secured funding for conversion to a 114-bed four-star hotel.

[13][14] In May 2021, the Scottish Civic Trust established The Egyptian Halls SCIO, which aims to acquire ownership of the building and undertake a full restoration programme.

[15][16] In March 2024 it was reported that the building, still behind scaffolding (covered initially by oversized billboard-style banner, then by an image of the façade after council objection to the 'excessive advertising' 13 years after its introduction, with the owners claiming the revenue was used in the upkeep of the preservation measures)[17] had gone back up for sale.