Edinburgh is finally getting a new concert hall after over a century of waiting. The long-awaited cultural project, set to cost at least £114 million, will be built in the heart of the city’s New Town. Despite facing delays, with a planned start date pushed back to 2029, the 1000-capacity venue has already secured £80 million in private backing. The venue is expected to cater to a wide range of music genres, including folk, world, jazz, rock, and electronica, making it a versatile addition to Edinburgh’s cultural scene.
Construction on the concert hall, designed by architect David Chipperfield and acoustic consultancy Nagata, is set to begin this summer after negotiations with construction companies. The site, located behind an old Royal Bank of Scotland building on St Andrew Square, has been cleared to make way for the new venue. The project, spearheaded by the Dunard Centre and funded by the Dunard Fund charity, aims to provide a new home for the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, fulfilling a 35-year search for a suitable location. The venue, named after the Dunard Fund, is expected to revitalize the city center and open up to the public for the first time in over 250 years.
Despite setbacks, including disputes over the venue’s design and rising construction costs, the project has received support from the Scottish and UK governments, as well as Edinburgh City Council. With a significant amount of private backing already secured, fundraising efforts are ongoing to cover the remaining costs of the project. The main construction work is anticipated to begin soon, with a projected opening date of 2029. While delays have tested the patience of all involved, the project is moving forward, and the public can expect a new concert hall to grace the streets of Edinburgh in the near future.
