Work started yesterday on the construction of a multimillion-pound centre which will soon house Aberdeen’s artworks and artifacts.
City council leader Jenny Lang officially broke the ground at the Granitehill Road site in Northfield where the £5.85million Museums Collection Centre is being built.
The 25,700sq ft facility will store pieces from the art gallery in Schoolhill, which has closed for two years while modification work takes place.
Other collections from across the city which are not currently on display will also be held at the new depot.
The project caused a political row in January after the cost of the building soared from £1.2million to £5.8million.
But Councillor Lang said the project was a major investment for the people of Northfield and their local community.
She added: “We wanted to choose a regeneration area where the facilities will serve the local community as well as the wider community within Aberdeen.
“It is also important to note that this is not just a storage facility but a place where the public can come and see the collections.”
The contract to build the centre was won by the Robertson Group, which will be required to employ two apprentices on site.
Construction is expected to be completed by November.
The new unit’s name will be chosen in the next few months .
Keith Taylor, managing director for Robertson Construction Eastern, said residents would see the foundations of the development begin to take shape in the next six to eight weeks.
The centre will also include space for community use where staff will help deliver skills and develop confidence through volunteering opportunities.
Cultural engagement in Northfield will be enhanced though guided walks and heritage trails.