Topping out ceremony marks next stage in landmark Colston Hall foyer project

Release Date:  02-Jul-2008

A topping out ceremony at the west’s leading music venue, Colston Hall, Bristol, took place on Monday, June 30, 2008. Council Leader Helen Holland and Bristol's Lord Mayor joined John Frankiewicz, Chief Executive Officer of Willmott Dixon Construction Ltd at the ceremony.

The ceremony, which involved the final pouring of concrete to fix the last stone in place, marked a key milestone in the completion of development works to the structure of the new foyer building.

Bristol-based contractors Willmott Dixon oversaw the topping out ceremony.

Invited guests were among the first people to cross the new walkway bridges from the auditorium into the new foyer area. From here they were able to enjoy panoramic views across the city and get an overview of how the new foyer will look.

The £20 million Colston Hall project will create a new foyer complex. Once completed, the foyer will be much more than a pre-concert meeting space and box office, it will boast new meeting, rehearsal and recording facilities, education and workshop spaces, new bars and restaurants, improved disabled access and conference facilities.

The ambitious multi-million pound development project is funded by Bristol City Council and Arts Council England. It is due for completion in early summer, 2009.

The foyer design, by architects Levitt Bernstein Associates, encompasses a glass-fronted building facing on to The Centre. The spacious atrium will be crossed at upper floor levels by bridges connecting new public spaces with the rear of the main hall and other parts of the existing hall building. When completed, it will be a significant landmark building in the city.

Bristol City Council Leader, Cllr Helen Holland, said: “It is wonderful, today marks another significant step forward for the whole city. I am so impressed with what has been achieved; it just goes to show that our bold and ambitious plans for Colston Hall are paying dividends. Soon we will have a new, iconic landmark building adding to the city’s landscape and giving additional performance, education and meeting space to Colston hall, making it an all-day facility.

“The new foyer will be a testament to our vision for the city, our strong partnership with Arts Council England and our continued commitment to live music performance.”

Brian Drysdale, managing director of Willmott Dixon in the South West, said: “The topping out ceremony marks an important stage in the development, and is a visible sign that the project is progressing well. It has been a very exciting project for us to be involved in and we are looking forward to getting started on the stage of this redevelopment.

“Colston Hall is already known as a thriving, well-respected venue and its redevelopment is being watched keenly by many people. We pride ourselves on our ability to meet the very highest standards in construction excellence, and a high profile project such as this one demands nothing less.”

Mark Lewis, associate director, Levitt Bernstein Associates, added: “The foyer building is coming together and is looking fantastic. It has been designed as a highly sustainable building with natural lighting and ventilation. There will also be solar hot water collectors to reduce carbon emissions. It is very much state-of-the-art and I’m delighted we are now at the topping out stage.

Author:  Helen Hewitt 0117 92 22646

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