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Impact Scotland, the charitable trust behind the Dunard Centre, has formally appointed Balfour Beatty to construct its 1,000-seat concert hall in Edinburgh.

Balfour Beatty will construct a five-storey steel frame with an envelope façade of pre-cast concrete panels. Internal finishes will include bespoke solid oak panelling to the hall to enhance the acoustic experience.

Main construction will start in the coming weeks, with completion expected in 2029. At peak, the project will employ a workforce of approximately 200.

The venue will also have a café, bar and multifunctional spaces for a variety of events alongside a complex in-situ concrete double basement for back of house facilities, including changing rooms and storage.

Balfour Beatty’s appointment follows an 18-month period of early contractor involvement, during which it worked with Impact Scotland and its design and engineering team to develop the construction methodology, sequencing, logistics and buildability for the constrained city centre site behind St Andrew Square. The venue has been designed by David Chipperfield Architects with Reiach & Hall Architects and input from Japanese acoustics consultancy Nagata Associates. It will be the UK’s first concert venue with Nagata acoustics.

During construction, Balfour Beatty will use 4D planning to sequence works, maximise efficiency and reduce disruption in the city centre.

Nick Rowan, managing director of Balfour Beatty’s regional 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 Dunard Centre is part of the Edinburgh & South East Scotland City Region Deal through which the Scottish and UK governments have already committed £10m each, alongside £5m from the City of Edinburgh Council. Alongside the public funding, Impact Scotland has raised more than £100m so far from private philanthropy, setting a new capital funding record for a cultural project in Scotland.

Ronnie Bowie, chair of Impact Scotland, 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.”

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