Today (Friday 15 December) Curo marked the latest milestone in the development of a new £10m community hub, primary school and nursery at Mulberry Park, Bath. A topping out ceremony celebrated the completion of the landmark building’s main structure.
Topping out ceremonies date back to pagan times. Traditionally to celebrate the building reaching its highest point, this ceremony is said to bring good luck and prosperity to all those who use the new building. An evergreen tree is hoisted over the building, which is said to ward off evil spirits.
At Mulberry Park, a Christmas tree was raised to the highest point of the building by the Mayor of Bath, Ian Gilchrist. Visitors were then given a guided tour of the new building, using virtual reality headsets to experience the completed rooms as they moved through the building.
The ceremony was attended by local residents and people from local groups and businesses who will use the new building when it opens in 2018.
Victor da Cunha, Chief Executive of Curo said: “It’s great to see the new community hub taking shape at Mulberry Park, underlining Curo’s ongoing investment in the local area. We’re really looking forward to seeing the building buzzing with activity when it opens in 2018.”
The community hub is being built by Rydon for Curo. Paul Barber, Rydon Construction’s South West Regional Director said: “The topping out ceremony is an exciting milestone to celebrate with our partner Curo for the Mulberry Park community hub. Our experienced team look forward to completing this project that will be a focal point – a place for local people to come together and enjoy a range of high quality public services and education facilities.”
Commissioned by Curo and designed by internationally renowned architects BDP, the community hub is ten times larger than that required under planning and will sit at the heart of Mulberry Park fronting onto a new public square, within easy reach for residents of Combe Down and Foxhill.
Named The Hub, it has been designed as a beacon for the local community and will include a café, meeting rooms, multifunctional spaces and an enterprise area with lettable space for a range of businesses. Curo is currently working with local agents, Carter Jonas to recruit partner organisations to run the café and enterprise space.
The celebration was also attended by Council leader, Tim Warren, Combe Down ward councillors, Cherry Beath and Bob Goodman and local residents who have worked with Curo to develop plans for the community hub.
The hub, primary school (run by Educate Together) and 70-place children’s nursery (run by Happy Days) will open at Mulberry Park in September 2018.