The Scottish Chamber Orchestra is to create a 1,000-seat auditorium, and rehearsal/recital, recording and administrative spaces in a new purpose-built centre behind Dundas House on St Andrew Square.
The Edinburgh International Festival will also get to use the performance venue.
The development, on land which is surplus to Royal Bank of Scotland’s requirements, is estimated to cost up to £45m. Dundas House itself will remain an RBS branch.
A major backer is the Dunard Fund – the same philanthropic body financing the proposal by St Mary’s Music School to develop the old Royal High School. Discussions continue about additional funding from the Scottish Government and City of Edinburgh Council.
The new medium-sized venue meets a need in the city, and will be designed as an acoustically excellent setting for all kinds of music, from pop to jazz, folk, chamber, solo and song recitals … plus small dance ensembles.
Whilst welcoming another boost to Edinburgh’s East End, and hopefully another nail in the coffin of Essential Edinburgh’s St Andrew Square funfair, we join others in wondering what effect this will have on the long-term future of SCO’s current performance home at the Queen’s Hall.