The Crescent at Donaldson’s

Introduction

Donaldson’s College is one of Edinburgh’s most iconic historic buildings, originally built in the late 1700s and designed by William Playfair. The project involved the development of new high-specification, crescent-shaped apartments within the former school grounds, alongside refurbishment of the historic Playfair building. The scheme provided modern residential accommodation while respecting the heritage and setting of the Grade-listed site.

Gallery

Solutions

Harley Haddow provided full civil and structural engineering services for the new apartment block, which included a steel frame structure, precast concrete floor slabs and stairs, and reinforced concrete retaining walls for the underground car park. Foundations comprised driven piles, including low-vibration steel tubes near the existing large stone surface water sewer. The design ensured structural stability, durability, and integration with both the new and existing historic structures.

Collaboration

Close collaboration with CALA Homes, City & Country, architects, and planning authorities was essential to ensure the new apartments complemented the historic Playfair building and site layout. Harley Haddow coordinated structural design with architectural intent, underground car park construction, and site constraints to deliver a buildable and safe solution.

Challenges

Key challenges included constructing new foundations near the existing stone sewer with minimal vibration, ensuring the underground car park retained structural integrity, and integrating a modern steel-framed apartment block with the historic Playfair building. The project required careful sequencing, sensitive structural detailing, and coordination with multiple stakeholders to meet both technical and heritage requirements.

Project awards

2019 Scottish Home Awards – Show Home of the Year (selling price over £400k) – Winner

2019 Homes for Scotland – Private Development of the Year, Medium (26-99 units) – Winner

2019 NHBC – Pride in the Job – Quality Award Winner

2019 The Herald Property Awards for Scotland – Best Apartment – Winner

2019 The Herald Property Awards for Scotland – Best Show Home – Winner

2019 What House? Awards – Best Apartment Scheme – Gold Winner

2019 What House? Awards – Best Luxury Development – Gold Winner

2019 What House? Awards – Best Interior Design – Gold Winner

2019 Scottish Home Awards – Innovation of the Year – Finalist