The Sage has cost �70m to build

The Sage Gateshead, which dominates the revitalised River Tyne quayside, was having the final panel placed on its unique roof on Monday.

The Sage, which will be one of the country's most individual music venues, has cost �70m to build.

It is due to open to the public for the first time towards the end of 2004.

The spectacular curved steel roof - which weighs 750 tonnes - is made from 3,000 stainless steel panels and 250 glass panels.

It will enclose the halls of acoustic excellence, music education centre, music resource centre, rehearsal spaces, entertainment suite, bars and restaurants beneath.

Glass panels

If laid flat, its 12,000 square metre area would be big enough to accommodate two football pitches.

The Gateshead Council project has been designed by architects Foster and Partners, built by Laing O'Rourke and supported by the Arts Council of England with lottery funding.

The roof was designed, manufactured and put together on site like an enormous jigsaw puzzle, by Austrian company Waagner Biro and was based on a concept design by Buro Happold.

Each stainless steel panel has a linen finish to reduce glare and measures about four metres in length and one metre wide. The largest glass panel weighs 300kg.

Each panel is solid filled to prevent drumming noise during heavy rain to maintain the acoustic excellence within the building.

The leader of Gateshead Borough Council, Mick Henry, said: "Gateshead Council has secured over �140m to fund ground-breaking projects across the borough over the past few years.

Music making

"The Angel of the North, BALTIC, Gateshead Millennium Bridge and The Sage Gateshead have together leveraged the culture led transformation of the area.

"They have put a great emphasis on the value of culture in society, the role of local authorities in cultural development and the educational opportunities that such transformation creates.

"This is a major step in the development of The Sage Gateshead building - the impressive roof is already a source for much anticipation from people living, working and visiting the area and we look forward to seeing it develop over the coming months."

The Sage will house a 1,700-seat hall, a 400-seat flexible hall, all linked by foyers designed for informal music making.

It will be a permanent home for Northern Sinfonia and will cater for all forms of professional and amateur music-making, including jazz, brass bands, rock and pop.

More than 500,000 people a year are expected to use the centre.