Leader comment: Dundee building for the future
It is almost two years to the day since work began on the project on the banks of the Tay and all the walls of the building have now been put in place.
Of course it has had its troubles. As well as looking a bit like the Scottish parliament in Holyrood (for now), it too has seen a massive increase in its costs, although not as astronomical as the Holyrood project.
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Hide AdOriginally expected to cost £45 million, when the price tag rose to £80m the Scottish Government had to step in to make sure the project still went ahead.
And they were absolutely right to do so – this is not just a building that will attract people from all over the world, it also proclaims a new chapter for Dundee as it is the centrepiece of the £1 billion regeneration of the city’s waterfront.
But yesterday’s topping out ceremony was marking more than just a milestone in the progress of this project and it is not just about the economic contribution that this building will make to the city and Scotland.
Each age must create the architecture that is unique to it and must display it even in cities with huge cultural heritage and centuries of tradition. This ultra modern signature building is a demonstration of confidence, and a statement of intent.