Scheduled to open in 2001, it did so in 2004, more than three years late with an estimated final cost of £414 million, many times higher than initial estimates of between £10m and £40m. The choices of location, architect, design, and construction company were all criticised by politicians, the media and the Scottish public. įrom the outset, the building and its construction have been controversial. The new Scottish Parliament Building brought together these different elements into one purpose-built parliamentary complex, housing 129 MSPs and more than 1,000 staff and civil servants. Office and administrative accommodation in support of the Parliament were provided in buildings leased from the City of Edinburgh Council. įrom 1999 until the opening of the new building in 2004, committee rooms and the debating chamber of the Scottish Parliament were housed in the General Assembly Hall of the Church of Scotland located on The Mound in Edinburgh. Enric Miralles, the Spanish architect who designed the building, died before its completion. The formal opening by Queen Elizabeth II took place on 9 October 2004. Construction of the building commenced in June 1999 and the Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs) held their first debate in the new building on 7 September 2004. The Scottish Parliament Building ( Scottish Gaelic: Pàrlamaid na h-Alba Scots: Scots Pairlament Biggin) is the home of the Scottish Parliament at Holyrood, within the UNESCO World Heritage Site in central Edinburgh. The Scottish Government and Members of the Scottish Parliament Aerial view of the Scottish Parliament Building and adjacent pool