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READY AND ASSEMBLED FOR TOP EDINBURGH APPOINTMENT
13 February 2009

READY AND ASSEMBLED FOR TOP EDINBURGH APPOINTMENT

The City of Edinburgh Council has appointed quantity surveyors, Doig+Smith, to spearhead the £12m refurbishment of the city’s internationally acclaimed venue, the Assembly Rooms on George Street.

The design proposals will see the property, which opened its doors in 1783, restored to its original grandeur to create a striking performing arts and events venue capable of accommodating conferences.

The ground floor will provide a number of retail units and the current Supper Room will operate as a fine dining restaurant. The upper floors, which include the Ballroom and the Music Hall, will house the events space alongside a number of small meeting areas. All the mechanical and electrical work will be replaced throughout and an IT infrastructure put in place to provide high speed box office and online booking systems.

Whilst retaining the building’s rich heritage, the refurbishment will create an attractive international destination with the intention of becoming the city’s most prestigious and stylish cultural venue.

Ian Jamieson, Partner, Doig+Smith said, “It’s a fantastic opportunity to be working on such a landmark building and pleasing to see that the design brief seeks to reclaim many of the original features of this iconic building. Conserving the city’s heritage is paramount but it’s equally important to be creating venues of an international standard which can serve the city in the future. This project really has it all”.

Work is expected to start on site late 2010 to be complete ready for the Edinburgh Festival in 2012.