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BAM Construction will begin work next month on the £80.11m V&A Museum of Design Dundee.
As we reported in January, the cost of building the V&A Museum of Design Dundee escalated from a price of £45m that was initially agreed with BAM in September 2014 to more than £80m before work has even started, generating concern for the viability of the project.
Now the council has agreed that the work will go ahead and has signed the construction contract with BAM.
The main building, designed by Japanese architect Kengo Kuma, is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2017 and open to the public before June 2018.
Doug Keillor, regional director of BAM Construction in Scotland, said: “This is the most unique construction project that my team have ever been involved in, both in architectural vision and in the way it will be built. It’s challenging, but in a good way. Watching it take shape over the next few years using a combination of local, national and international expertise, will be very satisfying.”
Dundee City Council administration leader Councillor Ken Guild said: “I am delighted that work to create a world-class museum and visitor centre will start soon at the heart of our central waterfront. This project will help to attract further investment into the city and we are already experiencing unprecedented levels of investor interest in Dundee.”
Director of V&A Dundee Philip Long said: "This is a thrilling moment in the development of V&A Dundee. It’s very important to acknowledge all the work done and contributions made over the last years and months that has led to the signing of this contract. As a result, everybody will soon be able to see work begin on the construction of this major new museum at the heart of Dundee's Waterfront."
V&A Museum of Design Dundee forms part of the V&A's growth plan to take the London-based collections to a wider audience. It is being delivered by Design Dundee Ltd, a partnership between the Victoria & Albert Museum, Dundee City Council, the Universities of Dundee and Abertay Dundee, and Scottish Enterprise.
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