Builder wins seven-figure university deal

The Scottish arm of a building group has been awarded a seven-figure deal to convert a vacant University of Edinburgh property into a stateof-the-art teaching hub.

Kier Construction Scotland, which is behind the restoration of the fire-damaged Mackintosh Building at Glasgow School of Art, has secured the £7.7 million contract to transform Grade B-listed Murchison House.

The firm said work began earlier this month and is scheduled to be ready for the teaching semester in September next year.

The former British Geological Survey property on the King’s Buildings Campus at the university will undergo a major fit-out and refurbishment to become a “dynamic” multi-functional building.

It will house an open-plan teaching hub with study spaces, lecture theatres, exhibition spaces, Edinburgh Innovations offices and incubation units and a range of student service offices. Additionally, it will boast the latest in IT and audio-visual facilities.

Kier said the project builds on its “extensive expertise” in the higher education sector, currently on-site at various iconic buildings, including the refurbishment of Edinburgh College of Art as well as work at its Glasgow counterpart.

Brian Mcquade, MD of Kier Construction Scotland and north-east, said: “We are delighted to have won this important contract, which demonstrates our solid record of successfully completing major projects of this scale and builds upon our relationship with the University of Edinburgh.” 0 Brian Mcquade is delighted with contract win