Construction work on Dundee’s V&A Museum has officially begun.
The project’s architect, Kengo Kuma, joined Culture Secretary Fiona Hyslop and representatives of V&A Dundee, Dundee City Council and BAM Construction for a short ground-breaking ceremony.
Mr Kuma told The Courier he had “confidence” that the building, which is due to open in summer 2018, will be constructed on time, adding: “Today I saw the site and I was very impressed at the transformation.”
Director of V&A Dundee, Philip Long, presented Mr Kuma with a commemorative silver vessel privately commissioned for the ceremony, which was created by Beth Henderson, a jewellery and metal design student at Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design.
Carnoustie based piper Craig Weir, pipe sergeant of the Arbroath Royal British Legion Pipe Band, concluded the ceremony with a rendition of Bonnie Dundee.
Initial work on site will include the creation of a coffer dam and the installation of site hoardings.
The £80.11 million project will be the first ever design museum to be built in the UK outside London and is Kengo Kuma’s first building in the UK.
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Dundee City Council leader Ken Guild said he was delighted the project has now reached the actual construction stage.
He told The Courier: “We are pressing forward with the V&A, we have the finance and the contractor in position and this is the symbolic cutting of the ground.
“I think it’s a landmark moment that assures the people of Dundee that theproject is on track. It’s proof that it is going ahead and despite the controversy that has been heaped on the project by others we have kept our eye on the ball.
“This is the physical manifestation of that.”
Mr Long said the day is “a thrilling moment in the development of V&A Dundee”, adding it was important to acknowledge all the work done and contributions made over the last years and months to get to this stage.
Doug Keillor, regional director ofBAM Construction in Scotland, described the V&A project as “unique” and“challenging”.
He said: “This will be 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 goodway. Watching it take shape over the next few years using a combination of local, national and international expertise will be very satisfying.”