The Scottish Parliament: - Holyrood Building

The search for a new site for the new Parliament building began after the referendum in September 1997 in which the people of Scotland voted by almost three to one for the creation of the first Scottish Parliament in almost 300 years.

Here is a summary of the project history outlining the key events in the development of the Holyrood Building.

Holyrood Project Timeline

Jump to: 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004

1997
July	White Paper 'Scotland's Parliament' published
December	Choosing a Site: Short-listed sites published Holyrood added to short-list
December	Exhibition of short-listed sites in Edinburgh and Glasgow
1998
January	Site Selected: Holyrood announced as site for new building Designer Competition: launched
March	Designer Competition: 70 submissions 12 practices selected for first interview
April	Cost consultants appointed and first draft building user brief issued Archaeology at Holyrood: Archaeological work commenced
May	Designer Competition: 5 practices invited to prepare conceptual ideas
June	Designer Competition: Exhibition of conceptual ideas
July	Designers: EMBT-RMJM appointed as architects
September	Site formally purchased from Scottish and Newcastle
October	Demolition work started on site Designs on Display - Public exhibition of outline design proposals
1999
January	Large scale archaeological excavations commence
April	Preconstrucion work begins on site Designs on Display: Public exhibition of final scheme designs
May	Launch of Hoardings Artwork initiative (Future Face of Your Parliament)
Construction and Design Phase begins
June	Responsibility for the project transferred from Secretary of State to the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body 1st Parliamentary debate on the project Demolition works completed
July	Main construction work began on site
September	Revised chamber design agreed
October	First pour of concrete for substructure of MSP building including car park Children's artwork unveiled on site hoardings
November	First Tower crane arrived on site
2000
March	Spencely Report published
April	Construction of MSP building frame started 2nd Parliamentary debate on the project
June	1st vaulted ceiling of MSP building installed on site Holyrood Progress Group established
July	Death of Enric Miralles
September	Auditor General reports on Holyrood
October	New Parliament Building Visitor Centre opened Death of Donald Dewar, First Minister
December	Contract for Kemnay Granite awarded
2001
January	MSP accommodation topped out
May	3rd Parliamentary debate on the project
June	4th Parliamentary debate on the project
2002
September	First beams for Debating Chamber roof installed
October	First of the MSP feature windows installed
November	New Parliament Building Visitor Centre closed
December	Building Information Centre opened at The Tun
2003
March	Construction began of vaulted roofs in the committee rooms. Completion of beams and steelwork for chamber roof. Steelwork in the lobby roof in place.
June	Lord Fraser of Carmyllie, former Lord Advocate, appointed to lead investigation into cost of the new Parliament building
July	SPCB started monthly progress reports for Finance Committee
December	Chamber crash deck removed MSP Offices completed Queensberry House building work completed
2004
January	North elevation of Canongate Wall is completed Debating Chamber ceiling presented to Media
March	Last tower crane leaves Holyrood site
May	Installation of desks and carpet in the Debating Chamber begins
August	Staff move in to Holyrood Building
September	Holyrood Inquiry Report published Scottish Parliament met for first time in Holyrood
October	Official opening of the Building Guided tours began
November	Holyrood reached 100,000 visitors

October 2002: First MSP feature window installed

October 2003: Granite panels on Canongate Building

Committee Tower

Debating Chamber

At Opening of Parliament Building