Edinburgh Structural Steel Projects Past and Present
17 July 2026
Completed in 1890, The Forth Bridge is a symbol of Scottish engineering that was voted Scotland's greatest man-made wonder. It's the perfect example of just what steel construction can achieve, both in scale and in ambition.
In this blog, we take a look at some of the most interesting Edinburgh structural steel building projects of recent times and show how each one uses steel in unique and creative ways. We'll start by focusing on the Edinburgh Futures Institute at Quartermile.
Case Study 1: Futures Institute, Quartermile, Edinburgh
For 145 years, Edinburgh's Royal Infirmary stood as a Grade A-listed landmark of care and history. Today, it holds a new purpose: transformed through a complex restoration and extension, the building has become the Edinburgh Futures Institute, a state-of-the-art teaching and learning facility, developed in collaboration with the University of Edinburgh.
The project's scale matched its ambition. Spanning over 21,000 square metres, including 6,000m2 of new construction, the work carefully restored the historic fabric of the original building while weaving in the modern infrastructure needed for its next chapter.
The result is a future-focused hub for learning, research and data-driven innovation. Designed to nurture multidisciplinary collaboration, digital innovation and cutting-edge research, the institute brings together dynamic spaces for education, research and events alongside vibrant social and café areas and versatile meeting rooms, giving a historic Edinburgh icon new life at the heart of the university's community.
Case Study 2: The Broomhouse Centre, Edinburgh
Tucked into a tight site within a residential pocket of Edinburgh, the Broomhouse Centre is a fantastic example of modern construction fitting sensitively into its surroundings. The steel-frame building offers an impressive case study in efficient, community-focused design.
The project marks a major milestone for the local area, with a new £3m community hub after agreeing terms with Graham Construction. The project was the result of a community fundraising campaign, giving residents a wonderful facility for the community.
At 735 sq m, the purpose-built hub was designed with community life at its heart. A cinema and café, a hair and beauty salon, a shop, an artist's studio and an enterprise desk area will all be arranged around a central main hall, creating a single destination for residents to socialise, learn and do business.
Case Study 3: The Transformation of ‘Iconic’ former Edinburgh Tram Depot
Another important development relying heavily on Edinburgh steel is Shrubhill, a 376 home residential development in the Leith area. The site of Edinburgh’s historic tram depot, built in 1898, Shrubhill was home to the workshops and engine room that housed the winding gear for Edinburgh’s historic cable-hauled trams, which stopped running in 1923.Â
All of the metalwork requirements for this project were fabricated, and this project involved a fully pre-constructed product made of timber screens (fabricated off site) fixed to a metal frame secured to the walkways leading to the flat entrances.
In 2020, LDN Architects with Places for People put forward a plan for the former brownfield site to deliver a mixed-tenure community that recognised the history of the site and acted as a catalyst for the regeneration of the local area.
Edinburgh Steel Structures Built to Last
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