Dunard Centre concert hall awarded planning permission
Planning permission has been granted for the development of the Dunard Centre, a flagship new 1,000-capacity concert hall in Edinburgh city centre.
The City of Edinburgh Council has backed the development of the first new concert hall to be built in the city in over 100 years.
Designed by architect Sir David Chipperfield in collaboration with Reiach and Hall Architects and Nagata Acoustics, the Dunard Centre will feature a 1,000 capacity auditorium designed to accommodate a wide range of musical performances. It would also deliver spaces for education and conferencing, a café/bar with indoor and outdoor seating, and a foyer capable of hosting informal performances. It will be home to the Scottish Chamber Orchestra and the National Youth Choir of Scotland.
The Centre is strategically located in the heart of Edinburgh city centre, close to Princes Street and the St James Quarter. The £75 million project is being funded by the Dunard Fund and the Edinburgh and South East Scotland City Region Deal, with a £15 million fundraising campaign currently underway. Construction is set to begin in 2022, with the Dunard Centre opening in 2025.
“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."
- Gavin Reid, Chief Executive, Scottish Chamber Orchestra / Co-Chair, IMPACT Scotland