A BUILDING boss charged with rescuing Colchester’s multi-million pound art gallery from disaster has spoken frankly about the “challenging” project.

Simon Hall said he and colleagues at Mace had thought long and hard before agreeing to finish off the Firstsite gallery after lead contractor Banner Holdings was sacked.

He said the ambitious scheme, formerly known as the Visual Arts Facility, or Vaf – years behind schedule and millions of pounds over budget – had been so unpopular when Mace First came on board that stones were often thrown at its roof at night.

Every time he got a taxi to the construction site, the driver would spend the entire journey bending his ear about the project’s spiralling cost.

Despite the company’s reservations, Mace took on the job and has now completed the first part of its assignment in getting the exterior of the building safe and watertight.

Mr Hall revealed “a few tears were shed” when staff from the building’s future tenant, the arts organisation Firstsite, visited to witness the home it was supposed to have moved to years ago.

He said: “Mace works on a lot of arts buildings, including currently the Tate Modern extension, and we have a reputation as a man on a white horse, coming in to sort things out.

“When we first visited, we were also a little cautious, wondering if it was something we wanted to get involved with. In the end, we decided it was the right kind of project for us, and, of course, we are now pleased that the work we were originally commissioned to do has been completed on time.”

Mace has stuck with the sub-contractors employed by Banner, which was sacked by Colchester Council following a row over delays, and has since gone into administration.

New teams could not be brought in, as firms hired by Banner, which had entered into a legal dispute with Colchester Council, could have launched their own lawsuits, if their contracts were breached.

Leading a tour of the building, Mr Hall said it had proved a major challenge as there was “politics involved” in striking agreements with the various companies.

If that wasn’t enough, engineers also had to get to grips with the tricky details of architect Rafael Vinoly’s drawings.

Mr Hall said some aspects of the original design by internationally-acclaimed Mr Vinoly went beyond the bounds of possibility, including a “cat flap” style main entrance which was dropped a few years ago by Banner due to its huge cost.

Despite the challenges, however, he said he was convinced the building would still become an important asset to the town in years to come.

He said: “It did become a very unpopular project but, now the outside is finished, we have begun to notice people in the town are coming around.

“Every time we got in a taxi at the station and asked to be taken to Firstsite, the driver would spend the whole two-minute journey bending our ears about the project.

“The taxi drivers now are quite interested – they want to find out more about it and they are interested to see inside. Once we get all the landscaping in around it, I think people will come to realise what a great building it is.”

The Firstsite gallery will be a multi-purpose facility for the benefit of the whole town, council chiefs promised.

Paul Smith, Colchester councillor with responsibility for the project, highlighted its assets, including a large children’s education centre with outdoor play area.

He revealed Firstsite bosses were already fielding calls from firms interested in hosting conferences in the building, pictured, right, from above.

And he said the organisation had a major catering operation ready to swing into action.

It hopes art lovers will make use of this by staying to have a bite to eat after viewing exhibits, and wants local people to eat breakfast, lunch or dinner at the site, or simply pop in for a cup of coffee.

The gallery’s 250-seat auditorium will be available for all kinds of public lectures and talks and Mr Smith suggested it would also be perfect for commercial product launches.

He said: “For example, if you were launching a futuristic car, you could park it outside the entrance of this very futuristic-looking building for the photoshoot, and then take people into the auditorium for a presentation.

“That kind of thing will be valuable as it will bring people to the town, and that will have a knock-on effect for businesses.”

Work on the interior of the building is due to start next month.

Mr Smith said details would be announced in September of a spectacular exhibition to ensure the gallery opens with a bang when it is finally completed.