Renovation work is well underway on the new Fringe Central building, which is due to be completed early in 2026. We wanted to give a bit of background about the building – from its distant historical roots to more recent discoveries since we’ve commenced our renovation work.
Origins of the site and building
The site’s development dates back to the 16th century, when it lay within the boundaries of the Blackfriars Priory and the Flodden Wall that surrounded ancient Edinburgh. The Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh opened on this site in 1741 (giving Infirmary Street its name); this was demolished in 1885 to make way for the current building – a primary school designed by Robert Wilson – and the swimming pool that now houses the Dovecot gallery next door. Wilson was architect for the Edinburgh Board of Education and designed many school buildings around the city, including those that now house the Scotch Whisky Experience and Canongate Venture.
6 Infirmary Street is Category B-listed, which denotes buildings of special architectural or historic interest which are major examples of a particular period, style or building type. The site sits within the UNESCO Edinburgh World Heritage Site Boundary and the Old Town Conservation Area.
Retaining the building’s legacy
As well as ensuring our new home meets modern sustainability and accessibility standards (which we’ll expand upon in future blog entries), we want to ensure our development work celebrates the history and aesthetic of both the building and the surrounding area. This includes reversing some negative actions taken during the building’s hundred-year history, like damaging the stonework carvings over the ‘Boys’ and ‘Girls’ entrances while installing lighting over the external doorways, or painting over the beautiful tiling on the central staircase walls. Our plans include restoring these features to their former glory.
One pleasant surprise we’ve discovered was a series of Victorian-era wood-and-glass partition panels, which were previously hidden behind plasterboard walls. Where possible, these panels will be restored and integrated into our designs for the building.
You can be part of the new Fringe Central
We’re delighted to have the support of DCMS and other partners in funding this project, though there is still a lot more we want to accomplish – find out how you can support the new Fringe Central.