It will be built on the site of the former Farringdon Car Park in the town an dis scheduled for completion in August 2013.
The Forum scheme, which has an overall cost of £27m, is a joint enterprise between Southend-on-Sea Borough Council, the University of Essex and South Essex College of Further & Higher Education. The council is providing £12.5m towards the cost of the project, with the university contributing £10.4m and the college £4m.
It will provide a new public and academic library to replace the existing Central Library, a new teaching facility for the college and new research and learning facilities for the university. The Forum will also deliver a new home for the Focal Point Gallery, as well as a new café and lecture theatre.
Wates Construction managing director Ian Vickers said: "We are delighted to have been chosen as the main contractor for this flagship project in Southend-on-Sea.
"We will deliver an exceptional building, but more importantly we will immerse ourselves in the local community.
"We have committed to using local labour where possible, and want the project to be used as an educational tool in Southend-on-Sea.
"We will be providing many work experience placements, taking on a number of apprentices, running community days, and putting local unemployed people through our Building Futures programme, which gives further opportunities of employment or training. This is a very exciting time for the local community, and we are proud to be part of it."
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