Conference News Supplements Binder2 | Page 12

12 Academic Venues What’s about • Royal College of Surgeons, Edinburgh • Royal College of Physicians, Edinburgh • Stirling University • St Andrews University • University of Glasgow • University of Strathclyde • University of Edinburgh The Scottish Scene Famous for its academic institutions, Scotland isn’t short on first class venues cotland’s world-class research institutes, creative colleges and outstanding universities provide much food for academic thought when considering venues within an academic setting. The country’s pioneering work in key sectors including energy, education, technology and medicine is fuelled by academic venues and centres of excellence for meetings and conferences. The country’s academic venues are enjoying a busy year of development and renewal. In Edinburgh, the University of Edinburgh’s £33m redevelopment of its iconic McEwan Hall is due to be completed this autumn and will offer excellent facilities for a range of conferences and events. In www.conference-news.co.uk addition to its historic main auditorium which holds up to 1,000 delegates, there is a new and impressive pavilion entrance in Bristo Square with a capacity of up to 500 delegates. Equally impressive is the commercial arm of The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, one of Edinburgh’s oldest institutions, which has announced its re-brand to ‘Surgeons Quarter’. The rebrand, which will be completed by summer 2018, focuses on the £8.5m expansion of Ten Hill Place Hotel, which will increase its number of bedrooms to 129 and completely refurbish the restaurant and bar. The hotel is owned by the Royal College of Surgeons and the expansion will enable them to generate increased profits that benefit surgical patients all around the world. Ten Hill Place Hotel’s social mission mirrors that of its long-established sister venue, Surgeon’s Hall. Able to host up to 750 delegates, 100% of its profits support the work of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh and ultimately improves patient outcomes across the world through the advancement of surgical skills. Another academic venue in Edinburgh which is undergoing a refurbishment is The Royal College of Physicians. The £3.5m redevelopment began in November 2017 and will provide better accessibility within the college – including a new accessible entrance through No. 11 Queen Street via a platform lift – and a brand new public exhibition space. The college, which dates back to the 1860s, will benefit from enhanced conferencing facilities in its 300-seat auditorium such as the latest AV equipment and improved acoustics, enabling world-class conferences that are streamed across the globe.