Dunard Centre marks start of construction with groundbreaking ceremony

Guests including First Minister John Swinney, singer-songwriter Dougie MacLean and pupils from Broughton Primary School gathered on site for a morning of music, speeches and celebration

Yesterday, ground was officially broken on the Dunard Centre, marking the start of a four-year build with a ceremony that celebrated this historic moment before construction begins later today.

Scotland’s First Minister John Swinney joined representatives of the UK Government, City of Edinburgh Council, David Chipperfield Architects, Balfour Beatty and NatWest Group on site, with guests enjoying a range of musical performances that showcased the breadth and calibre of talent the venue will bring to Edinburgh.

This included singer-songwriter Dougie MacLean delivering an emotive rendition of his iconic ‘Caledonia’ in collaboration with P6 pupils from nearby Broughton Primary School,  pipes from Finlay MacDonald, Director at The National Piping Centre, and a string quartet from the Scottish Chamber Orchestra starting the morning with a short performance. 

Kickstarting a series of speeches from stakeholders and partners, Dunard Centre chief executive Jo Buckley thanked politicians and other guests for attending the ceremony, speaking about her personal focus on ensuring the venue plays a key role in enriching the lives of people across the city.

She said: “Today’s performances offered a glimpse of the breadth and calibre of talent the Dunard Centre will bring to Edinburgh.

“It is hard to build a concert hall — but important things are never easy. And what we are building here is not just a concert hall. It is a commitment to people and to community and to the transformational power of culture, which we believe really does change lives.”

“This venue will truly be a ‘Hall for All’, creating an open, accessible, and welcoming space in the heart of the city. It will be a place where Scotland’s musical legends will inspire the next generation of artists, giving children their first encounter with a concert hall and allowing them to feel the electricity that comes from live performance.

“I want to thank everyone who attended today for being part of this important moment for the project, and for their continued support. Reaching this key milestone has been made possible thanks to a unique partnership between government and private philanthropy, the product of which will be a world-class venue that Scotland can be proud of.”

Speaking at the groundbreaking, First Minister John Swinney said: “It’s a privilege to break ground and mark the start of construction of the Dunard Centre. The ‘Hall for All’ is a prime example of public and private investors coming together to invest in exciting, innovative projects that will help to grow our economy and significantly enhance Scotland’s cultural offering.  

“Jo Buckley was part of the Scottish delegation to attend Tartan Week in New York with me earlier this year and spoke at the iconic Carnegie Hall. Partnerships were fostered and strengthened by this visit and it’s been a pleasure to once again address an audience of Scotland’s leading cultural and arts stakeholders as we prepare to start building this exciting new venue.”

UK Government Scotland Office Minister Kirsty McNeill attended on behalf of the UK Government. She said: “The Dunard Centre will be a tremendous addition to Edinburgh’s cultural landscape and I welcome construction getting underway. The UK Government is a big supporter of the project, investing £10 million as part of our £300 million commitment to the Edinburgh and South East Scotland City Region Deal. 

“We look forward to continued close working with the ‘Hall for All’ partners so that local communities and visitors from around the world can enjoy such a world class facility as soon as possible. The UK Government is investing more than £2 billion in dozens of important local and regional projects the length and breadth of Scotland over 10 years, bringing much-needed economic and community renewal.”

Designed by David Chipperfield Architects with Reiach and Hall Architects, the Dunard Centre will be the UK’s first Nagata Acoustics hall, bringing together exceptional architecture, extraordinary acoustics and bold, ambitious programming to rival the best in the world in audience experience.

The Dunard Centre will be the first concert hall designed by Sir David Chipperfield. Speaking at the ceremony, the renowned architect said: “We are deeply honoured to have been selected to design this new cultural building in the historic heart of Edinburgh. We look forward to the concert hall becoming a significant contribution to Edinburgh’s cultural life and finding its place in the city’s extraordinary architectural and urban heritage”.

NatWest Chief Executive Paul Thwaite spoke about the bank’s support of the project, saying: “At the Royal Bank of Scotland, we are proud to partner in building a world-class facility here in the heart of Edinburgh. Seeing the Dunard Centre move from vision to reality is a testament to what ambition and collaboration can achieve. This world-class concert hall will be a huge asset to Edinburgh’s cultural life that will attract audiences from across the UK and further afield. We look forward to continuing to support this landmark project.”  

The construction of the new concert hall is being led by Balfour Beatty. Nick Crossfield, Divisional CEO of Balfour Beatty’s UK Construction Services business, said: “Breaking ground at the Dunard Centre is a landmark moment, taking us one step closer to realising Edinburgh’s first purpose-built concert hall in a century.

“We now look forward to working in close partnership with IMPACT Scotland and applying the highest standards of modern construction throughout, to realise this visionary design that will stand as a beacon for music and culture for generations to come.”

A combination of private and public funding has secured this world-class venue for Scotland and the UK. The Dunard Centre is part of the Edinburgh and South East Scotland City Region Deal, through which the Scottish and UK Governments committed £10 million each, alongside £5 million from the City of Edinburgh Council. Last month, First Minister John Swinney made an in-principle pledge of an additional £20 million in funding, which has been matched pound-for-pound by Dr Carol Colburn Grigor. 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 Dunard Centre shares its 2023-24 Annual Report

The Dunard Centre, the cultural programme of the Edinburgh and South East City Region Deal, has shared its Annual Report for the 2023-24 financial year.  
 
Detailing a pivotal period for the project, key milestones covered in the report include the completion of enabling works that have prepared the site for construction; forging new cross-sector partnerships, including a new Further Education partner in Edinburgh College; securing a growing network of donors, trusts and corporate partners, with over £30M raised over the past financial year; and analysing insights from the first wave of citizens research.  
 
Jo Buckley, Chief Executive, said: "This project’s ambition, not just for its local community but for Edinburgh’s global reputation, signals a bold commitment to the importance of culture to our lives, our economy, and our society. We are now at a crucial turning point for the project, and we look forward to breaking ground in 2025." 
 The Dunard Centre, supported by Royal Bank of Scotland, will be Edinburgh’s first purpose-built venue of its kind in over 100 years, rivalling the best in the world in acoustic quality and audience experience. Designed by David Chipperfield Architects, it will also be the first Nagata hall in the UK. 
 
As well as providing a new home for the Scottish Chamber Orchestra and a key performance venue each August for the Edinburgh International Festival, the Dunard Centre will be an inclusive cultural hub for all kinds of musical performance. Re-asserting Edinburgh's status as a Cultural Capital, the venue will also be an exciting new public space in the centre of Edinburgh, offering rehearsal and recording space as well as delivering an educational outreach programme that builds new audiences and brings new performers to the city. 

Download the report here.

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GREEN LIGHT FOR DUNARD CENTRE AS CITY APPROVES PLANNING APPLICATION

On Wednesday 24 November, The City of Edinburgh Council’s Development Management Sub Committee approved IMPACT Scotland’s application to build Dunard Centre on Edinburgh’s St Andrew Square.  

Dunard Centre, Supported by Royal Bank of Scotland, is set to be Edinburgh’s first purpose-built music and performance venue in over 100 years after City of Edinburgh Council approved the plans at today’s Development Management Sub Committee.  

One of the boldest ventures in the city’s contemporary story, with the visionary support of Dunard Fund, the hall is ingeniously inserted just behind Dundas House off St Andrew Square.  The 1,000 capacity Dunard Centre transforms a forgotten site into an exciting new destination for music lovers. 

As the cultural flagship for the Edinburgh and South East Scotland City Region Deal, the Dunard Centre will fill a recognised gap in the region’s cultural infrastructure and provide a platform for local, national and international musicians to perform to audiences in a hall designed to rival the very best in the world.

Expert consultants Nagata Acoustics have been working with award-winning David Chipperfield Architects on the sleek auditorium design, which will welcome acclaimed UK and international musicians from the worlds of classical, traditional, jazz, pop, world and folk music. Nagata’s previous high-profile projects include the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles, the Philharmonie de Paris and Elbphilharmonie in Hamburg, all venues renowned for their rich and immersive sound. David Chipperfield Architects have made their name around the world working on historic renovations and designing contemporary buildings including projects in UNESCO world heritage sites, such as the Neues Museum and James-Simon-Galerie on Berlin’s Museum Island, and the Procuratie Vecchie on St. Mark’s Square in Venice.

The new building will be a place where people can come together to experience incredible performances, with unexpected collaborations and bold programming designed to appeal to audiences of all ages and tastes. The flexible setting will be a home for the Scottish Chamber Orchestra as well as host for other ensembles, choirs, solo musicians and bands. 

A welcoming café and an all-day events schedule will ensure the Centre’s contribution as a cultural hub and showcase venue, with education and community outreach programmes encouraging participation throughout the region.  

The new performance venue is a much-needed investment for Edinburgh which continues to be the world’s festival city. Other cultural destinations in the world are investing heavily in new venue infrastructure, leaving Edinburgh, which has not had a new hall in 100 years, at risk of lagging behind. 

Welcoming the decision, Fergus Linehan, Festival Director and CEO of Edinburgh International Festival and co-chair of IMPACT Scotland said: “The Council’s decision today is fantastic news for the city and for music in Scotland. Edinburgh is a city famous for its cultural life and home to world-renowned arts festivals which generate over £300 million for the Scottish economy, but it lags behind many other cities in its provision of cultural infrastructure which currently deters some artists from choosing to perform in the city.  By creating a modern hall with outstanding facilities and acoustics, we are closing the recognised gap in the region’s cultural infrastructure and helping to sustain Edinburgh’s position as a leading cultural city against national and international competition.  At the same time, we are creating a year-round cultural hub to offer a diverse range of performances and an extensive education and community outreach programme.”   

Gavin Reid, CEO of Scottish Chamber Orchestra and co-chair of IMPACT Scotland said: “Today’s approval is tremendous news for the City and turns the ambition for a world-class centre for music and performance, into a reality. The Dunard Centre will become the new home of the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, and will be transformational. A stunning auditorium offering the very best in modern acoustics and boasting state of the art digital broadcast facilities will allow us to dream big, expand our repertoire, collaborate with ever more composers and artists, present our work innovatively, courageously and flexibly all with a new-found sense of adventure and ambition, always seeking to reach more and more people.”

Malcolm Buchanan, Chairman of the Royal Bank of Scotland’s Scottish board, said: “The City Council’s decision to approve plans for the Dunard Centre is an important milestone for Edinburgh and represents great progress with an exciting project that will enrich the education, music and arts communities in the city and beyond. Royal Bank has almost 300 years of history since our inception in Edinburgh in 1727. The Dunard Centre’s close association with our iconic building at 36 St Andrew Square means this is a project that we are proud to be part of.”

Sir David Chipperfield, Principal, David Chipperfield Architects, said: “Throughout the process of developing the design of the Dunard Centre we have embraced both the qualities and the challenges of working with such an extraordinary site. Embedded in the dense area of the Registry Lanes and also on the grand civic axis with Dundas House, the project marks the pivoting point between the New Town and St. James Quarter. Our ambition is to create a building of distinction that is respectful of its complex context while establishing a significant new cultural destination and place in this wonderful city.”

Among the musicians welcoming the announcement were:

Roddy Woomble, lead vocalist with Idlewild said: 
“It's always exciting to hear about a new arts and music venue opening in Edinburgh. Since I've known the city, many great venues have come and gone, but the Dunard Centre sounds like it will be here to stay - an ambitious, creative space that will encourage and showcase local talent, alongside national and international performers. New music is always going somewhere in Edinburgh and the Dunard centre will see that it gets there.” 

Anna Meredith said: 
“Delighted to write in support of the proposed new venue in Edinburgh. As someone who works across creative genres, this kind of space is especially exciting to me as it offers the flexibility to allow artists to work across mediums and realise their work to its full potential.”  

The Proclaimers said: 
"The Dunard Centre would be a prestigious and fantastic cultural asset to the city"

Composer Errollyn Wallen CBE said: “Scotland has one of the richest, most varied music scenes in the world. I am inspired and proud to live here. As the country's artistic reach goes from strength to strength, a new concert hall for Edinburgh is a concert hall for the world’s stage.”