Awarded

Design, Fit-out, AV Provision for an update to the Caledonian Hall

Descriptions

RBGE Caledonian Hall Event Space – Background The Caledonian Hall is situated in the heart of the garden and one of the key event spaces on site, marketed as an events venue which is predominantly used for weddings and other social events, including funeral receptions, birthday parties and, to a lesser extent, corporate meetings and events. The current plain décor allows clients to dress the hall to their theme, but the hall is now showing signs of wear and increasingly potential clients are commenting on this and choosing to hold their event elsewhere. In the competitive Edinburgh marketplace we are losing ground. The venue no longer reflects our 5 star visitor attraction status. There were 119 events in financial year 2019/20. The Caledonian Hall has a long history within the Botanics; it was built originally by the Royal Caledonian Horticultural Society as their Exhibition Hall within their experimental garden until 1864, when it became the RBGE’s Herbarium (collection of preserved plant specimens) until 1964. Brief Project Description & Purpose The project is to redecorate the space to create a sense of “wow” on arrival and to better reflect the venue’s unique selling point as a historic building within a botanic garden. The décor should reflect and celebrate nature and the living collection within RBGE The purpose of the project is support our strategic objective to generate increased commercial income for RBGE by creating a 5 star venue within the garden to attract new clients, increasing the number of events held and creating new products to sell to new and existing customers.