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Toitu Otago Settlers Museum director Linda Wigley and Octa Associates Ltd senior project manager Adrian Thein reflect on a computer-generated image showing a planned reception counter in the museum's new "Josephine Foyer" , in which they are standing. Photo by Peter McIntosh. |
As the opening of the redeveloped Toitu Otago Settlers Museum
draws near, project managers yesterday handed over control of
the final stage of the museum's $38.5 million redevelopment.
Adrian Thein, senior project manager at Octa Associates Ltd -
the firm which has undertaken redevelopment project
management for the museum - met museum director Linda Wigley
to mark the transfer of the fourth and final stage to museum
officials.
After being closed to the public during much of the latter
stages of the redevelopment, the museum will reopen on
December 8.
Museum director Linda Wigley was " very excited" the
redevelopment was nearing completion but also mindful more
work had to be done before the opening.
"It's been a long project. We've kept the momentum going."
Construction work on the first stage of the redevelopment, a
nearby climate-controlled storage building, began in 2008.
Mr Thein was pleased the project was nearing completion but
also had "mixed feelings", knowing years of regular contact
and discussions with museum staff and contractors would soon
be ending.
Stage four has involved creating a new arrow-shaped northern
entry for the museum, including a 600sq m foyer area, called
the "Josephine Foyer", where the museum's historic steam
locomotive will be more prominently displayed.
A Double Fairlie locomotive, Josephine was one of the first
steam locomotives operated in the Dunedin area, entering
service in 1872.
About 7000 linear metres of new rimu boards have been used
for the tongue and groove construction of the foyer's wooden
floor, which blends in with the rimu floors in the museum's
adjacent Burnside building.
Ms Wigley said Josephine was much loved and would be a
drawcard for the redeveloped museum, appealing to visitors of
all ages and backgrounds.
"Even people with no interest in the technology can see the
beauty and the power that these things have."
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