KIER Construction Scotland has won a £7.7 million contract to transform a listed building owned by the University of Edinburgh.

The multi-million project involves Murchison House, a Grade B-listed building which dates from the 1970s.

The former British Geological Survey building, which is currently lying vacant on the university’s King’s Buildings Campus will receive an extensive fit-out and refurbishment

It will be turned into a multi-functional building with an open-plan teaching hub alongside study spaces, lecture theatres, exhibition spaces, Edinburgh Innovations offices and incubation units and a range of student service offices.

It is scheduled to be complete in time for the teaching semester which begins in September next year.

Murchison House will also be equipped with the latest in IT and audio visual facilities to improve the working and learning environment for students and staff.

Kier has extensive experience within the higher education sector. Current projects at iconic buildings, include the intricate restoration of the fire-damaged Mackintosh Building at the Glasgow School of Art as well as the refurbishment of Edinburgh College of Art.

Brian McQuade, managing director of Kier Construction Scotland and north-east, said: “We are delighted to have won this important contract which demonstrates our solid record of successfully completing major projects of this scale and builds upon our relationship with the University of Edinburgh.”