Millennium bids invited

Two millennium schemes worth a total of £43 million are up for prequalification. Management contractors are being invited to pitch for the £25 million contract to construct The Deep for the European Maritime Institute, a millennium attraction explaining the world's seas and oceans, in Kingston-upon-Hull.

The second £18 million project is to redevelop the Liverpool Museum and Walker Art Gallery on Merseyside.

Work on The Deep will involve construction of major aquarium components and themed exhibition areas incorporating multi-media and high/low-tech exhibits and interactive displays. Education and research accommodation will also be included along with a caf'/restaurant, retail and support areas. A two-storey stand-alone business centre will also be built for high-tech, marine and IT companies.

The project will be built on a waterfront site at the confluence of the Humber and Hull rivers called Sammy's Point. Client is EMIH, based in Hull. The project has won £18.4 million grant from the Millennium Commission. Applications are being handled by the project manager BDP Project Management, also in Hull.

The National Museums and Galleries on Merseyside scheme has received its financial backing from the Heritage Lottery Fund to the tune of £23.9 million. This will go towards the upgrading of the Liverpool Museum, Walker Art Gallery and Museum of Liverpool Life.

The invitation to prequalify covers the first two institutions. Work will include the partial demolition of existing buildings and the organisation of a number of specialist subcontractors to carry out extensive renovation of the Liverpool Museum and Walker Art Gallery. A separate invitation to tender has been advertised for a £5 million mechanical and electrical services installation contract.

The scheme will provide greater links between the sites, return important gallery spaces to public use and bring many exhibits out from storage to be shown in new innovative displays. Work is due to finish by mid-2002.