Balfour Beatty has announced that it has been awarded a £162 million contract by IMPACT Scotland to deliver the Dunard Centre
A landmark cultural development that will become Edinburgh’s first purpose-built concert hall in more than a century.
This prestigious project marks a major milestone for Scotland’s capital city, combining world-class architecture, engineering, and cultural ambition to create a state-of-the-art venue that will serve as a vibrant new home for music and the arts. Once complete, the Dunard Centre is expected to attract around 200,000 visitors each year, providing a significant boost to Edinburgh’s cultural scene and economy.
A Landmark Cultural Venue for Edinburgh
Situated in the heart of the city, just behind St Andrew Square, the Dunard Centre will be a transformative addition to Edinburgh’s urban landscape. The facility will feature a 1,000-seat main auditorium designed for exceptional acoustic performance, ensuring an intimate yet world-class listening experience for audiences. Complementing the main performance space will be a café, bar, and a variety of multifunctional areas that can host diverse events ranging from rehearsals and community workshops to conferences and private functions.
The concert hall’s design and construction have been carefully tailored to suit its constrained city centre location. Balfour Beatty will construct a five-storey steel frame structure wrapped in an envelope façade composed of pre-cast concrete panels, blending strength with aesthetic appeal. Inside, the venue will feature high-quality finishes including bespoke solid oak panelling designed to enhance acoustic quality and visual warmth.
Complex Construction and Engineering Excellence
One of the most technically challenging aspects of the project will be the construction of a complex in-situ concrete double basement. This space will accommodate a range of back-of-house facilities essential to the operation of the venue, including performer changing rooms, storage areas, and technical support spaces.
Balfour Beatty’s expertise in delivering complex urban builds will be crucial to managing this intricate construction process. Given the Dunard Centre’s location within a densely built-up area, meticulous planning will be required to ensure minimal disruption to surrounding businesses and residents. To achieve this, the company will employ advanced 4D planning technology, which allows the project team to digitally model and sequence every stage of construction. This approach will help optimise efficiency, safety, and logistical coordination, ensuring smooth delivery despite the site’s spatial constraints.
Collaboration and Early Contractor Involvement
The contract award follows an extensive eighteen-month period of Early Contractor Involvement (ECI), during which Balfour Beatty collaborated closely with IMPACT Scotland and a multidisciplinary team of designers and engineers. This collaborative phase focused on refining the project’s construction methodology, buildability, sequencing, and logistics.
Through this early engagement, the project partners developed innovative solutions to challenges posed by the site and design requirements. The ECI phase also allowed Balfour Beatty to work in detail with architects and acoustic consultants to ensure the concert hall’s design meets the highest standards of performance, comfort, and sustainability.
Nick Rowan, Managing Director of Balfour Beatty’s regional business in Scotland, highlighted the importance of this collaborative approach:
“We are proud to be entrusted with delivering what will become a nationally significant cultural venue in the heart of Edinburgh. We 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.”
Driving Local Skills and Community Benefits
Beyond its architectural and cultural significance, the Dunard Centre project will generate tangible benefits for Scotland’s economy and workforce. During the construction phase, Balfour Beatty will create at least five new apprenticeship positions and support ongoing training through the Modern Apprenticeship SVQ route.
The company’s commitment to skills development forms part of a broader social value initiative that prioritises local employment and supply chain engagement. Balfour Beatty intends to work extensively with Scottish small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), ensuring that local businesses play a key role in delivering the project.
This approach aligns with Balfour Beatty’s sustainability and community engagement strategy, which emphasises long-term economic impact, local partnerships, and inclusive opportunities across all its major projects.
A New Home for the Scottish Chamber Orchestra
When complete, the Dunard Centre will provide a permanent home for the Scottish Chamber Orchestra (SCO), one of the country’s most acclaimed musical institutions. The new venue will also serve as an additional hub for the Edinburgh International Festival, one of the world’s most renowned cultural celebrations.
By offering a purpose-built space with world-class acoustics, the Dunard Centre will enable both local and international artists to perform in a venue that meets the highest standards for sound, comfort, and accessibility. Its flexible design will allow it to host a broad range of performances, from classical concerts and contemporary music to educational workshops and cultural events, broadening public access to the arts.
Project Timeline and Workforce
Main construction work on the Dunard Centre is set to begin in the coming weeks, with completion scheduled for 2029. At its peak, the project is expected to employ around 200 people on site, including tradespeople, engineers, and apprentices.
This substantial workforce will contribute to the local economy while gaining experience on one of Scotland’s most high-profile cultural infrastructure projects.
A Cultural Legacy for Generations
The Dunard Centre represents more than just a new building—it’s a symbol of Edinburgh’s ongoing commitment to nurturing creativity, culture, and community. For Balfour Beatty, the project reinforces its reputation as one of the UK’s leading construction and infrastructure companies, known for delivering complex, high-quality projects that stand the test of time.
When the doors open in 2029, the Dunard Centre will not only enhance Edinburgh’s skyline but also enrich its cultural heritage, providing a world-class space where music, performance, and people come together for generations to come.
About US
- Balfour Beatty is a leading international infrastructure group with 27,000 employees driving the delivery of powerful new solutions, shaping thinking, creating skylines and inspiring a new generation of talent to be the change-makers of tomorrow.
- We finance, develop, build, maintain and operate the increasingly complex and critical infrastructure that supports national economies and deliver projects at the heart of local communities.
- Over the last 116 years we have created iconic buildings and infrastructure all over the world. Currently, we are working to deliver Hinkley Point C, the first UK nuclear power station in a generation; constructing the world-class arts and cultural facility, the Lyric Theatre, in Hong Kong; and designing, building, financing, operating and maintaining the Automated People Mover superstructure at the fifth busiest airport in the world, Los Angeles International Airport.
- From Dunfermline’s tramways in 1909 to highland hospitals today, Balfour Beatty has been trusted for over a century to deliver the complex and critical infrastructure and iconic buildings Scotland relies on. The company has the people, knowledge and experience to safely deliver projects right first time, maximising value for money and ensuring a positive social impact and inclusive economic growth for local communities.
Source link:https://www.balfourbeatty.com/
