The Edinburgh International Conference Centre was part of the competition winning Exchange District masterplan produced by Terry Farrell and Partners in the west end of the city. The project ran from 1989-1995 with construction beginning in 1993 and the centre opening in 1995.

The site had previously been occupied by the Caledonian Railway Station which had formed a rift between the New Town and the triangle of land between Lothian Road and Morrison Street. A fundamental part of the design strategy was to ‘heal’ this divide by re-establishing links across the former railway land towards the New Town. Further land acquisition prompted a shift in focus so that Morrison Street was established as the key spine for urban renewal with the Conference Centre established as the ‘front door’ to the development.

The final design centred on a circular drum form which could accommodate the requirement for revolving auditoria, known as a ‘wheel-and-hub’ principle. Internal circulation was achieved both vertically and horizontally via the entry space off Morrison Street and repeated on significant levels at the front of the building.

Construction Partners:
Landscape Architect: Gillespies; Ian White Associates
Interior Design: Skakel and Skakel
Acoustic and Theatre Design: Sandy Brown Associates
Engineering Consultant: Arup