Work will finally begin on new concert hall in coming weeks

After months of negotiating contracts and extra funding, the charity responsible for building Edinburgh’s new 1,000 seat concert hall says construction work will begin shortly.

IMPACT Scotland, the charity behind the first purpose built concert hall in more than a century in the capital, has engaged Balfour Beatty to take overall charge of the project.

The funding has been boosted by £20 million promised in principle by the First Minister, John Swinney, with match funding from Dr Carol Colburn Grigor, adding to the philanthropist’s already substantial contribution to the new building.

An original £20 million was included in the Edinburgh and South East Scotland City Region Deal signed by then Prime Minister Theresa May in Edinburgh and then First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon in 2016. Each government committed £10 million, and The City of Edinburgh Council pledged £5 million.

Since then IMPACT has raised more than £100 million from philanthropists and private donors, and while the fundraising is still active there are plans for a public fundraiser when construction begins.

It is envisaged that the new £162 million hall designed by David Chipperfield Architects with Edinburgh firm Reiach and Hall Architects will be completed by 2029.

The structure is designed to fit in the snug space between the Royal Bank at 36 St Andrew Square and St James Quarter, which was cleared some months ago in readiness. The building will have many modern features such as acoustics designed by Nagata Acoustics of Japan, a stage which will move to allow the space to accommodate pop and rock, classical or jazz with or without a stage. The Scottish Chamber Orchestra will make it their permanent home and it will be a new Edinburgh International Festival venue for the future.

The way the site will work is that the development will create new public routes through from St Andrew Square to the east end.

Balfour Beatty will recruit at least five new apprentices to work on the contract and will work with local supply chains. Some 200 people will be employed during the construction phase.

Jo Buckley, Chief Executive of the Dunard Centre, said: “This is a huge milestone for the Dunard Centre, and an historic moment for the city, which has looked forward to this new venue for many years. With a contract signed, we can now get to work on building Edinburgh’s first new concert hall for more than a century. We are delighted to be working in partnership with Balfour Beatty, who will lead the construction of this bespoke, world-class building and bring David Chipperfield and Nagata’s visionary design to life.

“IMPACT owes so much to the belief and tenacity of many individuals and organisations, whose support from the earliest stages through to today has brought this project to fruition. We are particularly grateful for the strong partnership between government and private supporters, who together have shown how public funding can be used as a catalyst for exceptional philanthropic giving — a record, indeed, for Scotland. Today’s announcement would not have been possible without the extraordinary additional pledge from Scottish Government, and the match funding it has unlocked, in recognition of the long-lasting impact this project will have on the people of Scotland. As a living, breathing community centre with a concert hall at its heart, the benefits of this landmark investment will be felt daily by countless individuals and communities for generations to come.”

The expectation is that the concert hall will have 200,000 visitors and will support nearly 300 jobs each year with spending in Edinburgh and neighbouring areas increasing by £8.6 million.

Ronnie Bowie, IMPACT Scotland Chair, said: “Ambitious projects like this really do only come about once in a century, and they are driven forwards by the strength of their partnerships. Delivering a major infrastructure project of this kind, amidst the global and economic challenges we have seen in recent years, has been no small feat and is a testament to the strength and perseverance of the delivery team. Signing this contract with Balfour Beatty is another celebratory step towards making our vision a reality, and we look forward to working alongside our many other stakeholders to create this ‘Hall for All’ — a space which really will offer something for everyone, whether it’s experiencing a phenomenal live show, a workshop, a class, or simply gathering over a coffee.”

First Minister John Swinney said: “I greatly welcome the signing of this contract as the next step towards the establishment of an exciting new cultural venue in the heart of Scotland’s capital. The Scottish Government is proud to support the Dunard Centre in recognition of its potential to significantly boost Edinburgh’s cultural offering and provide a new home to the Scottish Chamber Orchestra.

“I am therefore delighted to pledge a further £20 million in Scottish Government funding to secure the Dunard Centre’s future, subject to our funding conditions being met, which has been very generously matched pound-for-pound by Dr Carol Colburn Grigor. This public investment is in addition to the £10 million we have already made available, as part of our £300 million investment in the Edinburgh and South East Scotland City Region Deal. The Scottish Government will continue to work closely with IMPACT Scotland and the Dunard Centre as the project progresses.”

UK Government Scotland Office Minister, Kirsty McNeill, said: “The UK Government recognises the significance of the Dunard Centre to Edinburgh’s cultural landscape and welcomes this progress towards delivery. That’s why we invested £10 million in the project as part of our £300 million commitment to the Edinburgh and South East Scotland City Region Deal. We continue to engage with project partners to facilitate its successful development.”

Council Leader, Jane Meagher, said: “I’m pleased that the main construction contract for the Dunard Centre has now been signed, signalling the start of work on this outstanding venue. Once complete it will not only provide a stunning, world-class concert hall, but will help open up the arts to people from all backgrounds. As a major venue for the Edinburgh International Festival it will play a part in the world’s greatest annual celebration of the arts too.

“This key moment is a product of strong partnerships, between local and national government, private benefactors and the third sector, and demonstrates the strength of support for the project. I can’t wait to see the centre take shape and I’m sure people across Edinburgh will share in my excitement.”

Nick Rowan, Managing Director of Balfour Beatty’s business in Scotland, said: “We are proud to be entrusted with delivering what will become a nationally significant cultural venue in the heart of Edinburgh and have worked meticulously to plan every stage of this complex build, from construction logistics in a tightly constrained site, to the precision needed to achieve world-class acoustic performance.

“Our focus now is on safe, efficient and high-quality delivery, working closely with our local supply chain while creating meaningful jobs, apprenticeships and skills opportunities throughout the programme.”

The project is also supported by donations from individuals, and grants from trusts and foundations including Binks Trust, The Carnegie Corporation of New York and the Wolfson Foundation.

Dunard Centre, Balfour Beatty Visit