A new £4.2 million building - part of a £10 million redevelopment - has been formally handed over to the Wedgwood Museum Trust by Mansell's Western Region based in Stourbridge.
The new complex is at the home of Wedgwood in Barlaston, Stoke-onTrent and will house the world's largest collection of Wedgwood ceramics, about 8,000 items.
Many of them are rare or unique and the collection includes Josiah Wedgwood's original trial pieces for a Queen's Ware 952 piece dinner set presented to Catherine the Great of Russia in 1774, and the UK's only five foot high exhibition vase decorated by Emile Lessore.
The Wedgwood Museum work involved the construction of a new museum building with exhibition galleries for the fast-expanding collection, museum offices, manuscript rooms and educational facilities. The project also involved alterations and additions to car and coach parks and access roads.
The building is adjacent to the existing Wedgwood Visitor Centre. Mansell has completed large projects at the Transport Museum in Coventry, the Tile Museum in Ironbridge and the Elgar Birthplace museum in Worcester.
The company has also carried out numerous museum and art gallery projects including extensive work at the British Museum.
Mansell Western Region divisional manager for Building Solutions, Steve Oldacre said: "This has been a big project for the Wedgwood Museum Trust, funded largely by the Heritage Lottery Fund."
* Mansell is celebrating after winning one of the most prestigious industry awards. The company was named Major Contractor of the Year 2008 in the national Building Awards. Mansell achieved a turnover of £872 million in 2007 and has 2,700 employees.
