Dunard Centre

Delivering a technically complex cultural venue within a constrained historic city centre site.

The Dunard Centre is located on a tightly constrained brownfield site behind St Andrew’s Square, within Edinburgh’s UNESCO World Heritage New Town. The project presents significant technical and logistical challenges, including its proximity to the Edinburgh Tram line and adjoining occupied structures, the presence of heritage-listed buildings, and the potential for undiscovered vaults beneath the site.

Early procurement challenges were compounded by market volatility, cost inflation, and reduced contractor risk appetite. Following the withdrawal of the initially preferred contractor under a two-stage Design & Build strategy, the project team undertook a strategic review of procurement options to safeguard viability while maintaining cost certainty and programme resilience.

A collaborative procurement strategy and transparent cost management approach designed to protect a landmark cultural investment.

Egis – T&A joined the project at Stage 4, to provide cost management services, working alongside the client and design team.

The contractor was appointed under a Pre-Construction Services Agreement (PCSA), enabling early contractor involvement, strengthening collaboration, and providing greater certainty around programme, risk, and cost from the outset.

Managing risk, value, and cost certainty through early engagement and a flexible contract strategy.

During the PCSA phase, we worked closely with Balfour Beatty and the wider project team to identify and mitigate key risks, refine buildability solutions, and establish transparent cost benchmarks. Value engineering and risk workshops ensured that design ambition, acoustic excellence, and budgetary constraints remained carefully balanced.

In response to prevailing market conditions, the contract strategy evolved from a traditional two-stage Design & Build approach to a hybrid NEC Option C (Target Cost) with Option A sub-contracts. This structure promotes collaboration, open-book cost management, and aligned incentives, encouraging proactive risk management and shared ownership of cost and programme outcomes.

Our ongoing role includes robust post-contract cost control, transparent reporting, and continuous risk review to ensure emerging issues are identified early and managed effectively.

Cost certainty, risk mitigation, and a clear pathway to delivery for a landmark cultural venue.

Through independent cost assurance, strategic procurement advice, and collaborative post-contract cost management, we are helping to protect the client’s investment and support the successful delivery of the Dunard Centre.

The project is now well positioned to deliver a world-class concert hall that enhances Edinburgh’s cultural infrastructure, supports local and international performance, and provides a flexible, welcoming venue for performers, audiences, and the wider community — all within one of the city’s most sensitive historic settings.

Dunard Centre.

Client

Project Value

Timeline

Environmental benefit

Statistics.

The challenge.

Delivering a technically complex cultural venue within a constrained historic city centre site.

Imagine.

A collaborative procurement strategy and transparent cost management approach designed to protect a landmark cultural investment.

Create.

Managing risk, value, and cost certainty through early engagement and a flexible contract strategy.

Achieve.

Cost certainty, risk mitigation, and a clear pathway to delivery for a landmark cultural venue.

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