The first concert hall in more than 100 years is “to be built in Edinburgh … after councilors approved £45 million proposals for the Impact Centre,” writes David Bol in Wednesday’s (4/24) Edinburgh Evening News (Scotland). “After more than five hours of debate, the city council’s development management sub-committee approved the construction of the Impact Centre, which will be renamed the Dunard Centre … The 1,000-seat auditorium will also include a 200-seat studio for performances, rehearsals and recordings as well as rooms for education and conferences. The open foyer will host music performances and a cafe bar. Located behind Dundas House at St. Andrew Square, it will also become home to the Scottish Chamber Orchestra and will be used as a venue for the Edinburgh International Festival…. The construction of the Impact Centre will overlap with the completion of the adjacent St. James Centre [shopping center and hotel]…. Sir Ewan Brown, chairman of Impact Scotland, said: ‘It’s designed to be an open-all-day venue … where everyone feels welcome and a destination everyone can feel part of.’ Architect Sir David Chipperfield said wrapping the audience around the stage will create ‘an intimate shared experience with music at its heart.’ ”
Posted April 30, 2019
