The work marks the end of a complex phase of the project, revealing the scale and outline of the Dunard Centre.   
 
A total of 16,000 cubic metres of material has been removed from the site, equivalent to around 480 double-decker buses or 2,750 grand pianos. Temporary props supporting the basement walls are now in place, while concrete works are progressing to form the ground and lower basement levels.

The basement will house essential operational infrastructure for the venue, alongside dressing rooms, a lower ground floor bar and a range of backstage and support facilities that will help bring the future venue to life.

The next phase of construction will see the installation of the building’s structural cores, which will house staircases and service shafts while providing critical support for the structure above. Steelwork is expected to begin at the start of next year, marking the next visible stage as the venue begins to rise from the ground.

Works remain on schedule, with the Dunard Centre expected to be completed in 2029.

Jo Buckley, chief executive of the Dunard Centre, said: “It’s great to be past what can often be a particularly challenging phase in any construction project, digging into volcanic rock laid down thousands of years ago. To be able to see the full shape and outline of our future venue – from the footprint of the box office, to the curve of the auditorium, and even the first hints at stairwells  – is really thrilling.

“Not only can we now appreciate the scale and depth of the venue, we can start to picture how it will actually be used: where audiences will arrive, how people will flow through the building, and how the new public pathways that hug our walls will connect our venue with the restaurants, bars, hotels and shops in this vibrant corner of the city. Most importantly, it helps us imagine what this place will become: a venue buzzing with life, people, music and culture.”

Martin McGough, project director at Balfour Beatty, said: “Completing the main excavation marks a significant milestone for the Dunard Centre and is testament to the expertise and dedication of our project team and specialist supply chain partners. With works to form the basement structure now well underway, we look forward to building on this progress as the Dunard Centre begins to rise above the ground in the new year.”

Alongside progress on site, Balfour Beatty’s extensive social impact programme continues at pace. Recent initiatives have included working with Scottish Pathways to Construction to create opportunities for young people to gain experience in the industry, sponsoring grassroots musical talent through the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Community Stage, and welcoming Social Impact Placement students onto the project.

These activities complement the Dunard Centre’s wider vision to maximise opportunities for education, skills development, community engagement and local economic growth throughout both the construction phase and the venue’s future operation.