‘Delivering unique Dundee V&A is a must’, says BAM Construction chief
By Darren Hamilton, 23 April 2015 6.00am.
An aerial shot of the V&A site, taken by local pilot Jim Crosby, shows the work to install the cofferdam taking place over the water of the Tay. By the end of summer the walls of the V&A should be appearing.Jim Crosby
Having been in the pipeline since 2007, Dundee already knows its new V&A museum is a “slow burner”.
But a boss at the building firm behind its construction is fiery with passion about the new million attraction — and has revealed how its walls are set to rise from the ground within weeks.
Work is finally under way on the museum of design at Dundee’s Central Waterfront. Last Monday, contractors BAM Construction began creating a cofferdam, a temporary structure which will allow work to start on the building over the Tay.
Once the cofferdam is in place, cranes will arrive on site to begin the construction of the main walls, which are due to be completed at the end of next year.
Doug Keillor, regional director of BAM Construction Scotland, told the Tele that work was “progressing well”.
He said: “The critical thing for us is to get the cofferdam finished by the end of May as that will allow us to continue the piling works.
“In June or July, the public will see the tower cranes going up and after that work will start on the core concrete walls.
“It is a slow burner and it is not something that is going to happen very quickly.
“It is challenging work and it will take quite a bit of time to see the progress.”
BAM has completed projects in Dundee such as Discovery Quay and the ice arena.
Doug said: “The building is absolutely unique. But we have done it before. It is challenging in terms of how the building is shaped but that is what spurs us on — we know how to do it and we are confident that we have the right team to do it.”
Having been born in Dundee and brought up in Angus, Doug recognises the significance of the arrival of the V&A museum and the challenges of overseeing a project of its magnitude.
He said: “I’m absolutely delighted to be involved.
“I was born in Dundee, I’m from that area and I have strong family and business links there. For me, getting a unique building in Dundee and delivering it to the people was an absolute must.
“The building is absolutely unique and it is going to be very important for Dundee. It is going to bring tourists in and bring in a lot of people from the surrounding area.
“The Waterfront area has needed a lift for many years and the tie-in with the Tay is fantastic.”
Despite the cost of Kengo Kuma’s iconic building previously rising from an approved budget of million to million, Doug insists that he does not anticipate any further changes to the agreed contract price — and is confident that the building will be completed by December 2017.
He added: “That won’t be changing. “We are very focussed on that.
“I’ve got a very strong team round about me, very proud people who want ?to deliver the best possible job for the V&A.”