Construction of the new foyer building for Bristol's Colston Hall music and performance venue is complete, on budget and on time.

The building in the heart of the city centre was handed over to Bristol City Council by main contractors Willmott Dixon at a special ceremony on 20 April.

Builders, carpenters, electricians and plumbers mingled with leading councillors and other officials to mark the completion of the work. Guests included Lord Mayor Cllr Christopher Davies, councillors, representatives from the Arts Council and the South West of England Regional Development Agency and local MPs.

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The £20.3m building, with its distinctive copper-alloy metal cladding will transform Colston Hall as a city centre venue. It provides modern box office facilities, new performance and exhibition spaces, meeting rooms, rehearsal and recording studios, education and workshop areas, two cafe bars, improved disabled access and conference facilities.

Designed by architects Levitt Bernstein Associates, the foyer features a spacious atrium crossed at upper floor levels by a series of bridges. These connect the new foyer and its public spaces with the rear of the existing main auditorium and other parts of the historic hall building.

(CD/JM)