Bristol may not have covered itself with architectural glory with much of its recent dockside development, but with the first phase of the Colston Hall's transformation it has struck gold with a spirited new building.

The so-called new foyer building is so much more than a foyer. As a life long user I have always been disappointed by the lack of any real sense of arrival and occasion to a night out. This has at long last been put right.

It was just over a decade ago that I was championing the dramatic fractured design for the proposed Centre for the Performing Arts on Canons Marsh that was to replace our worn out concert hall.

It is now evident that the earmarked £60million Arts Council lottery funding was diverted to Gateshead's 'Sage' building designed by Norman Foster and that whatever might follow in Bristol was destined to be second best.

So there was a particularly heavy burden resting on the shoulders of Axel Burrough of Levitt Bernstein, the gifted Bristol born architect in charge of the project.

He had the major challenge of working on an awkward and unprepossessing site, replacing a rather good Art Deco gas showroom turned Council offices, and marrying up to the elaborate 'Bristol Byzantine' frontage and fifties concert hall.

The Colston Hall sits on the site of Bristol's 16th Cent 'Great House' in which Queen Elizabeth 1st stayed and entertained on a visit to Bristol. It was then a prominent site just above the old working harbour and its teaming quays.

As we know the harbour has now become a busy road and the water is culverted out of sight, requiring the new building to shout loudly to be noticed.

By setting the entrance front well back from the original building line the architect has made space for a fitting arrival piazza and sunny restaurant terrace in place of its previously mean pavement. This space is coming to life as Bristolians fast learn that the foyer building is to be used on an everyday basis rather than just visited for an occasional show – and the food is good!

The soaring multi level atrium with its staircases and bridges is set to become Bristol's democratic gathering place. It does however cry out for continuous programming of events and performances if it is not to become an anti-climax following its spirited opening fortnight of celebration.

Its generous day-lighting is contributing to the good feel and real pride that those that work there seem to be experiencing. It is therefore disappointing that unnecessary lights stay on even when the sun is pouring through the building, although I am sure this will be dealt with soon.

But there is one energy howler that I cannot let pass. What was no doubt a political decision led to the erection of an elegant wind turbine that seldom turns – not surprising for a building sitting in a valley.

This wasteful public expenditure on green 'bling' brings sustainability into disrepute and there is nothing to be done but to donate the wretched device to a charity on a windy hilltop!

If there is one internal let down it is by something over which the architect appears to have had no influence, that is the rather tacky white board signage that looks temporary but isn't.

Lets not spoil our new masterpiece for a ha'peth of tar and lets all use it to the very max. Bristol should be proud of its beautifully conceived and well constructed new public building – it sets a welcome challenge for us all.