Edinburgh’s former infirmary reopened for research and business collaboration
The June 2024 opening brought teaching, incubation and public spaces into a restored historic building.
News report
Edinburgh Futures Institute opened its restored Old Royal Infirmary building to the public on June 3, 2024, after a seven-year restoration. The University of Edinburgh project adapted the Category A-listed landmark for education, research and collaboration.
The institute describes approximately 20,000 square metres of space, including teaching facilities, rooms for working with industry partners, business-incubation areas and laboratories for prototyping. Exhibition and event rooms broaden the uses beyond conventional university offices.
The surrounding site also gained a public piazza, gardens and access points from Lauriston Place, Middle Meadow Walk and Quartermile. Those changes connected the renewed building with neighbouring streets and public spaces.
A September 2024 university account confirmed that the institute had been welcoming visitors since early June. It described the first organisations taking office and research space in areas including tourism, financial services, public services and the creative industries.
The opening gave a historic building a new working purpose while placing business and research activity within the same setting as teaching and public events. The completed facilities create opportunities for collaboration, although the results of individual partnerships require their own evidence. As a dated building-reuse project, the institute shows how an established civic landmark can accommodate shared workspaces, learning and practical experimentation, with public access forming part of the new use rather than being limited to an opening ceremony.
