An engraved trowel has commemorated news that the University of Surrey's new £3 million Performing Arts Centre is well on its way to hosting its first performance.

On Wednesday 6 October representatives from the university joined the Kier Southern site team for a topping out ceremony.

University vice chancellor, Prof Christopher Snowden, celebrated the construction milestone by ceremoniously trowelling over some cement. The event continued with speeches from the professor and other university personnel as well as Kier Southern director, Phil Durigan, who presented the vice chancellor with the gift of an engraved trowel to commemorate the occasion.

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Commenting at the ceremony, Prof Snowden said: "The university has a thriving performing arts community and a long established reputation for achievement in this area. This building is a visible signal of Surrey's commitment to providing the highest quality facilities for our students, staff and visitors. I am grateful to Kier and the many people who have been involved with this project for their tremendous efforts in bringing this exciting venture to fruition."

Construction of the new Performing Arts Centre involves the conversion of an existing sports hall into a fantastic community resource that will not only benefit the university students, but the wider public as well. The project involves stripping out the remains of the sports facilities and demolition of various walls to create a performance area that will be able to seat 197 people in the main area, with telescopic platform seating, and provision for another two dozen people sitting on the first-floor balcony.

(CD/GK)