Milestone For Southampton's New Musuem

3 August 2011, 13:27 | Updated: 3 August 2011, 13:30

The construction of Southampton's new museum, Sea City, has reached a key construction milestone with the final stages of the new special exhibitions pavilion nearing completion.

To mark this big step forward in the project, there was a topping out ceremony on August 3 to celebrate 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.

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.