Item NMC/0381A - New Botanical Laboratories, University of Glasgow

John Oldrid Scott was born in 1841, the second son of George Gilbert Scott (later Sir, born 1811). He was articled to his father in 1860, becoming principal assistant by the later 1860s. Although in increasingly fragile health following a stroke and family bereavements, George Gilbert Scott remained firmly in charge of the practice until his sudden death from a heart attack on 27 March 1878. Despite having had no formal partnership with his father, John Oldrid Scott inherited the practice, and was admitted FRIBA on 2 December that same year, his proposers being Charles Barry Junior, George Edmund Street and Benjamin Ferrey. He completed his father's Scottish projects, modifying the design of the spire at the University of Glasgow and acting as consultant for new buildings at the university until 1901. He died on 30 May 1913. In his later years John Oldrid Scott was assisted by his son Charles Marriot Oldrid Scott, born in 1880.

Born in Glasgow, John James Burnet was the son of John Burnet (1814-1901) , a self-taught architect based in Glasgow, and grandson of Lieutenant George Burnet of the Kirkcudbright and Galloway Militia.

John James trained at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts in Paris c1874-77. Afterwards, he joined his father's architectural practice John Burnet and Son, then Burnet Son & Campbell till 1897, when he was made FRIBA and President of the Glasgow Insitute of Architects. He later established a successful office of his own initially in Glasgow (John Burnet & Son) and then a second office in London (John J. Burnet).

The latter was set up in 1905 after Burnet had secured the prestigious contract to design the Edward VII galleries for the British Museum (1903/4-14), for which he was awarded a knighthood. One of Burnet's key assistants and later partners was the architect Thomas Tait (John Burnet, Tait & Lorne from 1930 to 1938). Burnet was also awarded the Royal Gold Medal from RIBA in 1923.

He was also a visitor and examiner to classes at The Glasgow School of Art, performing the following roles between 1882 and 1916:

Examiner for local competitions 1882-1884.

Examiner for local competitions (Architectural Section): 1889-1892, 1897.

Examiner for local competitions (Design) 1891-1893. Examiner for local competitions (Modelling section) 1891, 1892.

Examiner for Haldane bursaries: 1892-1894, 1900. Examiner for local competitions (Antique, life and still life) 1894.

Visitor for Architecture 1893. Visitor and examiner for Architecture 1894 - 1899.

Examiner for Institute of Architects' Prize 1898. Visitor to classes and examiner under local prize scheme (Architecture and modelling) 1901, 1902.

Visitor to classes and examiner under local prize scheme (Design and Decorative Art) 1901.

Examiner for bursaries and studentships (Architecture and Modelling) 1903,1904. Examiner for bursaries and studentships (Architecture) 1904/1905.

Judge for Diplomas, scholarships and bursaries (Modelling) 1909/1910, 1912/1913.

Judge for Diplomas, scholarships and bursaries (Drawing and Painting) 1915/1916.