Topping off for SKREI

21 November 2025

Topping off for SKREI

This week we have had a topping off ceremony for SKREI – An important milestone in the project that marks that the roof is in place and the building weatherproof.

True to tradition, the builder invited to a small gathering to celebrate the progress and all the good work that has been done so far. Project manager Jens-Henrik Andersen gave a short speech about the history of the cod before a hot lunch was served to everyone working on the project, both at the construction site and in the project organization of Museum Nord. On the plate there was of course cod, in the form of a lovely bacalao.

Thank you to Sortland Entreprenør and all subcontractors for a fantastic effort so far. It is a pleasure to follow the progress from week to week, and see how nice it’s coming together!

Deputy Mayor Marit Olsen was also present at the celebration and gave a speech in honour of the day, on behalf of Vågan municipality and Skrei eiendom:

Dear all of you,

Today we will mark an important milestone for SKREI. We are now in the middle of a project that means a lot, not only for the municipality of Vågan and Museum Nord, but for the whole of Lofoten and Norway. And it is truly a pleasure to stand here as the builders representative and to celebrate those of you who are actually erecting this building.

So first: a big thank you.

To all of you on the construction site – And I really wanted to mention each of you who work here at the building, all carpenters, concrete workers, electricians, engineers, architects and so on, but not to forget anyone, I just have to say a big thank you to all of you!

It is your efforts that make SKREI a reality here in Storvågan.

Thanks also to Sortland Entreprenør and all collaborating trades and subcontractors. You deliver quality, collaborate on solutions, and you do it with local roots and pride. It shows!

And to architects, planners and the exhibition team: thank you for a vision that combines nature, cultural heritage and modern dissemination. That’s impressive!

SKREI will become something more than a museum.

It will be a place where people understand how the cod – and the fisheries has shaped our coast for centuries. A place that shares about tradition, about drama, about resource management, about the seas of the future – and about everything that binds us to Lofoten.

And the building “Otolith” will be the core of it all.

The Otolith and SKREI will provide new opportunities for business and tourism and major ripple effects for the entire region.

Today we celebrate a turning point.

The toppin off that we have reached the top – And that we are now entering the final stage of the builiding works.

I am sure that everyone involved in this project will bring the same quality, safety and enthusiasm into the rest of the work.

So in conclusion:

Thank you very much for your efforts so far. We are very much looking forward to the day the doors open and SKREI is filled with visitors, laughter, learning and pride.

Congratulations on reaching this important milestone!

Progress on the construction site and Vågakallen in the November light

SKREI is in progress – on June 30th 2026, we will open our new museum!