Dr Norma and Sir Fraser Stoddart Science, Innovation and Technology Centre (currently the Science building)
We are delighted that the family of the late Sir J. Fraser Stoddart and his wife Dr Norma Stoddart have agreed to our Science and Product Design building being named in their honour.
One of our most distinguished FPs, Sir Fraser was born in Edinburgh in 1942 and graduated from Melville College in 1960 before attending the University of Edinburgh where he received his PhD in 1966.
His pioneering work on the design and synthesis of molecular machines won him the 2016 Nobel Prize in Chemistry. His research helped lay the foundation for nanoscale devices with potential applications in materials science, sensing, and energy storage.
He worked closely alongside his wife, fellow scientist Norma Stoddart, until her death in 2004.
New Erskine House (currently Queensway House)
New Erskine House, named after founder Mary Erskine, will house Classics, RMPS, and Art and Design at ESM Senior School.
Mary Erskine, a successful Edinburgh businesswoman, who saw all five of her children die in infancy, used her resources to endow a school that would educate and support the daughters of destitute merchants. Her aim was to provide girls with the skills needed for respectable employment and independent living.
The institution she established in 1694, first in the Cowgate, later at Bristo Street, became a cornerstone of girls’ education in Edinburgh and the foundation of The Mary Erskine School.
Pentland
The Pentland Building is our new Pipe Band space, created to accommodate our growing number of talented musicians. Pentland was the name of one of Daniel Stewart’s and Melville College’s eight houses. Each house was named after a Scottish firths: Beauly, Cromarty, Dornoch, Forth, Lorne, Pentland, Solway and Tay.
The Melville Wellbeing Hub at Dean Park House (currently Dean Park House)
Our new Wellbeing Hub is named in honour of our supporter, The Melville College Trust. It will be situated in our former boarding house, Dean Park House. The Wellbeing Hub will house our Wellbeing Support Assistants, calm rooms, a dining space for S1 & S2 students, Support for Learning, Food & Fashion Technologies, and PSHE.
Lauriston (currently Dornoch)
Lauriston will be the new home for our Geography Department. The building is named after the Merchant Maiden School’s third location: Lauriston. The school was at Lauriston from 1818 until 1871 when it relocated to premises on Queen Street. The building was demolished in the 20th century to allow for an extension to The Royal Infirmary.
Hopetoun (currently Solway)
Hopetoun will be the new home for our Computing Department, as well as housing a Food & Fashion Technologies demonstration kitchen. The dining hall at the current home of The Mary Erskine School is the ‘Hopetoun Hall’. Hopetoun, one of The Mary Erskine School’s clan (previous nomenclature for House) names, comes from the Merchant Company’s historical connection to the Hopetoun family and the Earl of Hopetoun.
The following buildings will retain their current names, and details of the subjects that will be housed in them, and their history, are below.
Old College
Designed by David Rhind, the Old College opened in 1855 as Daniel Stewart’s Hospital for 50 destitute boys. In 1870 the Edinburgh Merchant Company turned the Hospital into a fee-paying day school and changed the name to Daniel Stewart’s College.
The Old College will remain home to the Senior School’s English department, Media, an extended library, and Drama. We will retain the Tom Fleming Centre as a performance and assembly space. Old College will also house the Principal’s office, the Head of ESM Senior School’s office, and the Senior School’s main reception.
Cromarty
Cromarty will be home to the Mathematics and Business Education Department, and social & study spaces for our S5 students. Cromarty was the name of one of Daniel Stewart’s and Melville College’s eight houses.
Rutherford
The Rutherford Building will house the History, Modern Studies, and Modern Languages departments, along with a social space for S4 students. It is named in honour of James Wight Rutherford, a devoted supporter of Melville College and the F.P. Club, who died on 24 April 1978. A former pupil himself, Rutherford went on to act as Treasurer and later Governor of Melville College. He is remembered for his warmth, humour, and unwavering loyalty to the School.
Wallace Dunlop S6 Centre & Futures+
This newly renovated space includes a common room, study space, and café with food available for purchase, as well as the offices of the Futures+ team so that our S6 students can benefit from first-class support to secure the very best post-school destinations.
The S6 Centre is named after Wallace Dunlop, who served as Principal of Daniel Stewart’s College from 1882 to 1911.  He is regarded as one of the most influential leaders in the School’s early modern era. Over his twenty‑nine year tenure he oversaw major changes in staffing, student numbers, and the School’s educational direction.
Reid House
Reid House serves as our Music School with its beautiful recital room and extensive practice spaces. The building is named after E. W. Reid, who served as a devoted musician and educator at the School for 25 years.
Junior School Campus
Meanwhile, at our Ravelston site, the building currently named Buchan will become New Queensway – a nod to Queensway House at the Queensferry Road site, and a name our Juniors know so well.
Wondering where all these buildings lie? Take a look at our Junior School and Senior School maps below.
Bringing our School Histories Together
To further celebrate our impressive past, we will be installing a historical timeline in the Old College outside the Senior School reception, highlighting important moments from School history.
