BAM GROEP : Kengo Kuma visit to V&A Dundee site - One year from start of construction

(Press release V&A Museum of Design Dundee:) Dundee, 1 April 2016 - Japanese architect Kengo Kuma will visit the construction site of the V&A Museum of Design Dundee on Friday (April 1), marking a year since the £80.11 million project started on the banks of the River Tay.

Lord Provost Bob Duncan will welcome Kengo Kuma to the city as they see how his vision is becoming reality during a 'walk in' to the building - now with its full footprint clearly formed with its dramatic curvature walls at ground floor level.

Representatives from Dundee City Council and BAM Construction Ltd will accompany Kengo Kuma on the tour of the site.

The Lord Provost said: 'People can see from the outside that something really special is beginning to take shape on this site. I am delighted that Kengo Kuma can see how much has been achieved here in the space of a year. We are delighted with the attention that this project is focusing on our city. The aspirational V&A Dundee project is designed to provide Dundee and Scotland with a world-class museum, which will help to provide jobs and wider economic benefits.'

Kengo Kuma said: 'We are delighted that our vision for the V&A Dundee building, which was originally inspired by the beautiful River Tay setting, is now starting to take physical shape. Great progress is being made with the construction and already you can see the connection between the waterfront and the city is so much stronger. I am very proud to be part of this exciting development for the city of Dundee and Scotland and to be creating a museum that will inspire people to visit from the UK and beyond.'

Philip Long, Director, V&A Museum of Design Dundee, said: 'V&A Dundee will be Scotland's first museum dedicated to design, telling the inspirational story of Scotland's design heritage and bringing the most important international exhibitions from the V&A to Scotland. The building itself will be part of that story, an inspiring place to visit and enjoy. It is hugely exciting to see it develop day by day as we start to realise Kengo Kuma's remarkable design. The V&A Dundee team feels privileged to be part of the transformation of this beautiful city, reconnecting it to the waterfront and creating a flagship museum that will show people the power of design to change lives.'

BAM's Construction Manager Malcolm Boyd said: 'We are relishing meeting the unique technical and construction challenges and working with all our partners to deliver a building that will inspire Dundonians and attract worldwide recognition.'

Since construction started in April 2015, key milestones achieved include the completion of a coffer dam which enabled the foundation construction for the part of the building that will sit out over the Tay, groundworks on the former reclaimed dock site, piling for the ground source heating system and remodelling of the river wall.

This year's programme involves construction of the core inner walls, stairwell and lift cores and the outer double curvature walls of the building. It will take the remainder of this year to take the building up to its roof height. In 2017, pre-cast panels will be installed to the exterior to give the building its unique slatted, multi-layered appearance. The building is due to be completed in 2018.

Construction of V&A Dundee is also creating a number of benefits for young people. There have been 16 new start employment opportunities created. Seven existing apprentices are working on the projects and a further five apprenticeships have been initiated on the project. There have been seven work experience placements as part of employability programmes, most of which have been of twelve weeks duration.

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