David Chipperfield ArchitectsThe historic façade of an iconic Edinburgh landmark will soon be revealed to the city for the first time in more than two years.
The Jenners Building has been a fixture of Princes Street in the Capital for more than a century, once known as “Scotland’s Harrods.”
It has remained shrouded in scaffolding since it was gutted by a major blaze in 2023.
The A-listed landmark has undergone a major restoration and redevelopment programme led by AAA United, which acquired the building in 2017.
Now, after more than two years of conservation work, the public will begin to see the results as external scaffolding is removed in stages over the winter.
Andrew Keith, managing director of The Jenners Building, said: “Those of us working on the restoration have had the privilege of seeing the Victorian craftsmanship up close, and it is extraordinary.
“Over the coming months the façade will gradually re-emerge. Edinburgh is getting The Jenners Building back, and people will be able to see the care that has gone into conserving it.
“It is a much-loved building that has always belonged to Edinburgh. There is still a great deal to do inside, but we are making good progress towards it once again playing a central role in the life of the city.”
The former department store building was originally designed by Scottish architect William Hamilton Beattie and completed between 1895 and 1905. It remains one of the capital’s defining examples of Renaissance Revival architecture.
The former department store closed in 2021 before being badly damaged by fire in 2023. It is now being transformed into a mixed-use destination featuring shops, restaurants, cultural spaces and wellbeing facilities.
Specialist craftspeople from across Scotland and the UK have spent thousands of hours restoring historic stonework, statues, decorative glass and original architectural features.
Among the most visible elements to return are the building’s famous gold-lettered JENNERS signs, which have been refurbished and reinstated as part of the conservation project.
The restoration has also included work to the building’s elaborate exterior stonework, with every section assessed individually to determine whether it could be repaired or required replacement.
The redevelopment spans 20,000 square metres across four interconnected buildings and 12 storeys.
Ratho-based firm Graciela Ainsworth Sculpture Conservation has conserved the 22 female caryatids and 12 female statues on the building’s east and south-facing facades, having first carried out work on the feature in 1995.
Graciela Ainsworth said: “It was a genuine privilege to return to the female caryatids and statues at The Jenners Building in 2025, a full 30 years after our initial conservation of them in 1995.
“This project has been a career highlight, blending our original care with today’s best practices, and I’m immensely proud to have helped conserve these sculptures for a new generation.”
Falkirk-based Matheson Ltd, specialists in heritage roof work using traditional materials, carried out the lead work to the gutters, dormers and ridges.
Scotland’s largest stained-glass specialist, Rainbow Glass Studios in Prestwick, has delivered advice, conservation, and restoration of all decorative glass within the building, including copper lights, heraldic leaded glass, and embossed internal screens.
Meanwhile, a team from Stirling Stone has worked to review each stone, restoring or replacing it as needed.
External scaffolding will be removed in stages over the winter, unveiling the work to the public for the first time.
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