Dunard Centre Edinburgh concert hall building design by David Chipperfield Architect, construction news

Dunard Centre Edinburgh Concert Hall Design

post updated 28 February 2026

Dunard Centre construction set to begin as contract signed with Balfour Beatty.

Work on Edinburgh’s first new concert hall in 100 years will begin within weeks.

Design: David Chipperfield Architects

Images by David Chipperfield Architects / Hayes Davidson

24 October 2025

Dunard Centre, New Edinburgh Concert Hall Building Design

IMPACT Scotland are thrilled to announce that a contract has been signed for main construction with Balfour Beatty, the UK’s leading infrastructure group. Balfour Beatty will have overall responsibility for building the world-class venue, with work due to begin on site within weeks and construction set for completion in 2029.

The contract, valued at £162 million, will see Balfour Beatty deliver an ambitious architectural landmark of global and cultural significance on the recently cleared site behind the historic RBS branch on St Andrew Square.

The signing follows an in-principle pledge of an additional £20 million in funding by First Minister John Swinney, which has been matched pound-for-pound by Dr Carol Colburn Grigor.

The Dunard Centre is part of the Edinburgh and South East Scotland City Region Deal through which the Scottish and UK Governments have already committed £10 million each, alongside £5 million from the City of Edinburgh Council.

Alongside the public funding, IMPACT Scotland has raised over £100 million to date from private philanthropy, setting a new capital funding record for a cultural project in Scotland. The charity’s fundraising demonstrates how public investment can be used to leverage significant philanthropic giving and deliver exceptional return on investment from government support. IMPACT continues to actively fundraise, with plans to launch a public campaign once main construction is underway.

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.”

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.”

A 21st-century venue for everyone

Supported by the Royal Bank of Scotland, the Dunard Centre will be the first UK venue with acoustics by the globally renowned Japanese firm Nagata Acoustics, and the first concert hall anywhere in the world designed by the multi-award-winning David Chipperfield Architects with Reiach and Hall Architects. The 1000-seater venue will host all types of music — from pop and rock, to classical, folk and jazz — as well as providing a permanent home for the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, and a new venue for the Edinburgh International Festival.

Open all day every day, the venue will be a vibrant, bustling hub in the heart of the city centre. As well as significantly increasing access to the arts for people of all backgrounds, ages and stages of life, it will open up new public pathways in Edinburgh’s New Town.

Social and economic impact assessments carried out this year by the Dunard Centre show that the venue will generate £266.9 million in Gross Value Added (GVA) over its construction and first 20 years of operation. Expected to attract 200,000 visitors and support nearly 300 jobs each year, the hall is projected to increase spend in Edinburgh and the surrounding region by £8.6 million a year.

Around 17,000 people are expected to benefit from a far-reaching engagement programme each year, with skills development programmes, apprenticeships and lifelong learning delivered in partnership with schools, cultural and third sector organisations.

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.”

City of Edinburgh 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.”

An ambitious architectural landmark for Edinburgh

The contract will see Balfour Beatty construct a new, world-class concert hall in the tightly-constrained city centre site, containing an 1000-seat auditorium, a café, bar and multifunctional spaces for a variety of events alongside a complex in-situ concrete double basement which will house performer changing and storage areas as well as back of house facilities. The high-quality internal finishes will include bespoke solid oak panelling to the hall to enhance the acoustic experience.

Long before the venue opens, the construction programme will deliver significant benefits to the local economy and community, with Balfour Beatty creating at least five new apprenticeship positions and skills development opportunities, as well as working closely with local supply chains through an engagement programme focused on Scottish SMEs. At its peak, the construction project will employ a workforce of around 200 people.

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.”

IMPACT Scotland Project in the New Town design by David Chipperfield Architects, London

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Previously on Edinburgh Architecture:

post updated 6 May 2025

Edinburgh’s first new music and performance venue for over 100 years.

Design: David Chipperfield Architects

24 April 2019

Dunard Centre, New Edinburgh Concert Hall Building Design

Approval For Edinburgh’s Dunard Centre

Edinburgh’s first purpose-built music and performance venue for over 100 years will be called Dunard Centre, supported by Royal Bank of Scotland.

The venue, which is the flagship cultural project of the City Region Deal, was agreed for planning approval by the Development Management Sub Committee of City of Edinburgh Council today (24th April).

Welcoming the decision, Sir Ewan Brown, Chairman of IMPACT Scotland said:

“Today’s decision is tremendous news for the City and turns the ambition for a world-class centre for music and performance, into a reality.

“I am particularly pleased to announce today that the official name of the venue will be Dunard Centre supported by Royal Bank of Scotland, this is in recognition of the huge contribution Carol Grigor has made to this project through the charitable trust Dunard Fund.

“We now have the opportunity to create an exciting new venue for everyone, in a building to be proud of.”

Images: David Chipperfield Architects/Hayes Davidson

Speaking during the committee hearing, architect Sir David Chipperfield said:

“This will be a public building that relates to Edinburgh on a civic scale by both fitting in and standing out in order to perform an important social and cultural role in a city with strong established cultural traditions.”

Background:

IMPACT Scotland is the charitable trust overseeing the project to create Dunard Centre supported by Royal Bank of Scotland which will be built just off St Andrew Square in Edinburgh.

The project is receiving £25 million through the Edinburgh City Region Deal (£10 million UK Government, £10 million Scottish Government, £5 million City of Edinburgh Council)

All other funding is being met privately, most significantly from Dunard Fund who, in addition to a substantial donation, are underwriting any capital cost overruns and annual deficits of the centre in the first 3 years of operation.

Dunard Centre supported by Royal Bank of Scotland will comprise; a 1,000-seat auditorium; 200-seat studio; a large foyer for all-day, informal performance; and a café/bar. There will be a range of general-purpose rooms suitable for education, community outreach activities and as conference spaces.

The venue will be for all kinds of music and performance and for education, rehearsal and recording. It will be the new home of the Scottish Chamber Orchestra and a principal venue for the Edinburgh International Festival.

Find out more at www.impactscotland.org.uk

Building renderings: David Chipperfield Architects/Hayes Davidson

Previously on Edinburgh Architecture:

5 May 2017

Edinburgh Concert Hall Building by David Chipperfield

David Chipperfield Architects selected for Edinburgh Concert Hall Building

New world-class concert hall moves a step closer

Design: David Chipperfield Architects

Location: immediately behind the historic Dundas Mansion at 36 St Andrew Square.

St Andrew Square Edinburgh aerial photo:

photo from MLA

Standard Life Offices George Street:

picture from the architect

David Chipperfield Architects

St Andrew Square Building Developments

The Edinburgh Grand, St Andrew Square Building
image courtesy of architects

42 St Andrew Square
Date: 1942
Architects: Arthur Davis (London) / Leslie Grahame-Thomson (Edinburgh)

photo © Adrian Welch
42 St Andrew Square Edinburgh