Art museum will form part of £100m regeneration of Wakefield's waterfront

Work on David Chipperfield’s The Hepworth Wakefield has been scheduled to begin on 19 November.

The 5,050 m2 gallery, which is being developed by Wakefield Council as part of a £100m waterfront regeneration scheme, is expected to complete in 2009, with public opening in early 2010.

The two-storey building at the head of the River Calder will be formed out of different sized trapezoidal shaped blocks.

Laing O’Rourke Northern will act as the main contractor on the two-year construction project.

Wakefield Council cabinet member for Culture, Tourism and Sport Clive Hudson said: “We are very excited that work on The Hepworth Wakefield will be starting in November.

“The gallery will open up access to Wakefield's internationally recognised collections and provide new opportunities for local communities, families, schools and visitors to get involved.”

The building, which replaces Wakefield’s current Art Gallery, will house work by Barbara Hepworth as well as other 20th century British artists including Anthony Caro and Henry Moore.

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