GRAHAM has been appointed as the new contractor to complete work on the City Centre Cultural Gateway (CCCG).
Construction on the pioneering cultural project was paused in September when the previous contractor, ISG, entered administration.
The scheme, housed within what was an IKEA store, will become a landmark destination in Coventry bringing together multiple local, regional and national partners across the creative and cultural sectors.
The appointment of GRAHAM has been welcomed by all project partners - Arts Council England, the British Council, CV Life and Coventry University, which will occupy two floors of the building.
Cllr Naeem Akhtar, Cabinet Member for Housing and Communities at Coventry City Council, said: “We’re delighted that GRAHAM is on board to complete the construction of this significant project.
“Despite unforeseen and challenging circumstances, Coventry City Council has moved swiftly to secure a new contractor to get the project back on track and within the approved budget, meaning no additional money is needed for the construction.
“Not only are we bringing high-profile national partners to the city, there’s also the potential to bring so much more to Coventry. We’ll have the ability to create opportunities for people in this sector and for residents here in our city with what will be an impressive cultural destination.”
Ronan Hughes, GRAHAM Regional Director, added: “We are proud to be appointed as the contractor to deliver this landmark cultural project for Coventry.
“The City Centre Cultural Gateway is an exciting scheme that will transform a former retail space into a world-class hub for arts and culture while providing long-term benefits for the local community, economy, and creative industries.
“We understand the importance of getting this project back on track and our priority is to deliver a new cultural destination that meets the needs of all partners and stakeholders.”
The project will see Coventry City Council working with major partners with each partner bringing a unique approach and industry expertise to Coventry.
The Arts Council Collection is one of the largest and most important national collections of modern and contemporary British art in the world. The Collection includes more than 8,000 works of art and reaches more than one million people each year.
The British Council has chosen to relocate its national collection to Coventry. The holdings of the collection are British art of the 20th century onwards.
CV Life will be relocating and consolidating its items in storage into the CCCG. The move will allow efficient management of CV Life’s entire collection making it easier to rotate and display items.
Coventry University will occupy floors five and six of the building, where it plans to house a variety of facilities which will add to the world-class facilities it already has on its city centre campus, including the Delia Derbyshire building. The aim is for this to be a space for research, innovation and enterprise work that is both community facing and impactful in nature, providing a significant contribution to the cultural and creative economy.
From Arts Council England's artistic vision to CV Life's commitment to preserving heritage, the project is a collective effort driving Coventry's cultural development.
As the project takes shape, it promises to not only enrich Coventry's cultural landscape but also stimulate economic growth. High-level economic projections suggest the potential for significant job creation and economic value, bolstering Coventry's position as a vibrant hub for arts, culture, and tourism.
GRAHAM will be starting work on the site from Spring 2025 with construction expected to be completed by Summer 2026.
Find out more about the project on the Coventry City Council website.