Balfour Beatty has been awarded a major £162 million contract by IMPACT Scotland to deliver the Dunard Centre, which will become Edinburgh's first purpose-built concert hall in over a century. Main construction on the tightly constrained city centre site behind St Andrew Square is set to commence in the coming weeks, with completion expected in 2029.

The contract follows an extensive 18-month period of Early Contractor Involvement (ECI), during which Balfour Beatty worked closely with IMPACT Scotland and its partners to develop the construction methodology, logistics, and buildability for the complex project.

Nick Rowan, Managing Director of Balfour Beatty's regional business in Scotland, expressed the company's meticulous planning: "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."

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The world-class venue will feature a 1,000-seat auditorium, a café, a bar, and various multifunctional spaces. Construction will involve a complex in-situ concrete double basement to house back-of-house facilities, changing, and storage areas.

Above ground, the team will construct a five-storey steel frame encased by a façade of pre-cast concrete panels. Inside, the high-quality internal finishes will include bespoke solid oak panelling in the hall, specifically designed to enhance the acoustic experience.

At peak construction, the project is expected to employ a workforce of approximately 200. Balfour Beatty is committed to creating at least five new apprenticeship positions, supporting ongoing skills development using the Modern Apprenticeship SVQ route, and engaging an extensive supply chain focused on Scottish Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs).

Once open, the Dunard Centre will serve as the permanent home for the Scottish Chamber Orchestra and a major new venue for the Edinburgh International Festival, with an estimated 200,000 visitors expected annually.