Kier Construction Scotland has been awarded a £7.7 million contract by the University of Edinburgh to carry out the transformation of the Grade B-listed Murchison House.

Work began in mid-December 2017 and is to be complete in time for the teaching semester in September 2018.

Murchison House is located on the King’s Buildings Campus within the University. The former British Geological Survey building, which is currently lying vacant, will receive an extensive fit-out and refurbishment to transform it into a dynamic multi-functional building with open-plan teaching hub with study spaces, lecture theatres, exhibition spaces, Edinburgh Innovations offices and incubation units and a range of student service offices.

Murchison House will also be equipped with the very latest in IT and audio visual facilities, improving the working and learning environment for students and staff.

The announcement builds on Kier’s extensive expertise within the higher education sector. The contractor is currently on site at a number of iconic buildings, including the refurbishment of Edinburgh College of Art and carrying out the intricate restoration of the fire-damaged Mackintosh Building at the world-famous Glasgow School of Art.

Brian McQuade, managing director of the 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 where we are currently working on the refurbishment of Edinburgh College of Art.”