[2] The choice of site caused early delays but in 1910 an architectural competition was announced with the requirement that the hall be simple but dignified.

The design was partly a backlash against Victorian Gothic, with a return to classical features owing much to the Beaux-Arts style.

The finished building was officially opened on 16 March 1914 with a concert featuring music by Handel, Bach, Wagner, Beethoven and the Scottish composer Hamish MacCunn.

The Usher Hall has been used for a variety of events, including politics, religion, charity fundraisers and sport, as well as music.

At various times the musical and the political overlapped, on occasions such as fundraising concerts for the Republican movement in Spain in the 1930s and sexcentenary celebrations of the foundation of the City of Edinburgh in 1929.

The extensive basement rooms of the Usher Hall made the building ideal for use as an air-raid shelter and the venue was equipped for use during the Second World War.

As a platform for international classical musicians, the hall hosted the Vienna Philharmonic, under Bruno Walter, at the first festival in 1947.

It was built in 1913 by Norman & Beard of Norwich at a cost of around £4000, and was designed to be the focal point of the Hall, both visually and musically.

It had fallen into disuse due to poor reliability caused by a lack of adequate moisture and temperature control, leading to it not being played for several years.

Freedom of the City ceremonies have taken place at the hall over the years, with the most recent being for film star and Scottish icon Sean Connery in 1991.

In 2007 work on the second phase began, which provided improved facilities and public spaces, including the construction of a new glass wing.