The deal was sealed after the Scottish Government stepped in with a \u00a320m rescue package for the project, which finally moves forward more than six years after first winning planning.<\/p>\n
Sir Robert McAlpine had originally been lined up for the job under a preconstruction deal signed four years ago. But the contractor exited last spring when costs ballooned from the \u00a345m first envisaged by architects Chipperfield and Reiach & Hall.<\/p>\n
Balfour Beatty was then brought in under an early contractor involvement agreement to thrash out the build strategy for the tricky city-centre site behind St Andrew Square.<\/p>\n
Commissioned by IMPACT Scotland, the landmark venue will give the Scottish Chamber Orchestra a permanent home and form a major base for the Edinburgh International Festival.<\/p>\n
![\"-\"](\"https:\/\/www.constructionenquirer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/d10544a7-18a7-4da4-917d-2b89a763c645_4571x3048-1-scaled.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nRender of the auditorium in Dunard Centre<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
The 1,000-seat hall will feature a complex double basement, five-storey steel frame and intricate oak-panelled interior designed for world-class acoustics.<\/p>\n
Work will ramp up in the coming weeks, with completion slated for 2029.<\/p>\n
As part of the works, Balfour Beatty will construct a five-storey steel frame with an envelope fa\u00e7ade of pre-cast concrete panels. The high-quality internal finishes will include bespoke solid oak panelling to the hall to enhance the acoustic experience.<\/p>\n At its peak, the project will employ around 200 people and support five new apprenticeships alongside a major SME supply chain programme.<\/p>\n Nick Rowan, managing director for Balfour Beatty in Scotland, said: \u201cWe 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.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/a><\/p>\n