Sea City topping out ceremony as highest point is reached
4 August 2011
The construction of Southampton’s prestigious international visitor attraction, Sea City, has reached a key construction milestone with the final stages of the new special exhibitions pavilion nearing completion.
To mark this significant stage in the project, Southampton City Council and contractor Kier Southern held a topping out ceremony on August 3 which celebrated reaching the highest point of the build - the tip of the pavilion.
During the ceremony the first metal coping will be placed on the pavilion roof by Southampton’s Mayor, Councillor Terry Matthews, Kier Southern and the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF).
Sea City, which has been supported by a grant of £4.9million from the HLF, is planned to open to the public in April 2012, 100 years after the Titanic tragedy.
Councillor John Hannides, Cabinet Member for Resources, Leisure and Culture said: “I’m genuinely excited the build of Sea City is progressing so well and we have reached the highest point of the pavilion.
“I am sure residents are as proud as I am that the high-profile Sea City is moving ahead and remains on course to open its doors in April next year.
“The attraction will not only bring together the city’s heritage, it will attract thousands of visitors and create many new jobs. This investment demonstrates our ongoing plans to develop Southampton as the capital of the south.”
Building contractor Kier Southern took over the site in the Grade II* listed Magistrates’ Courts which adjoin the Civic Centre in October last year and also took over the area vacated by the Police in March of this year.
Kier Southern director Martin Orr said: “The whole team at Kier Southern are extremely pleased to be involved with this prestigious and exciting project and are looking forward to marking reaching this significant milestone.
“Once complete, Sea City will showcase Southampton’s maritime past and the topping out of the nine metre high pavilion will be a celebration of how far the build has already come in achieving this.”
Alastair Fairley, Committee Member for HLF South East, will also be present at the event.
He said: “Southampton’s new Sea City visitor attraction will be an exciting addition to the city’s cultural quarter and will remind people of the city’s important contribution to the UK’s maritime heritage.
“We are delighted to see the project reach this important stage in creating a place which tells the fascinating and moving stories surrounding Southampton’s docks.”
Sea City is part of Southampton’s emerging Cultural Quarter set to bring more than 2000 direct jobs and an additional £21m of visitor spend to the city each year.
Image shows: Computer generated design of Southampton's new Sea City
Image copyright: Southampton City Council
For more information:
Contact: Marie Donnarumma, Kier
Tel: 023 8077 5261
Email: Marie.Donnarumma@kier.co.uk
Or
Contact: Isabel Hokken, Media Officer, Southampton City Council
Tel: 023 8083 4672
Email: isabel.hokken@southampton.gov.uk
Web: www.southampton.gov.uk/seacity
