Hamilton's unofficial insurance row - Pitts Bay Road - added another to its ranks yesterday with the inaugural roof wetting of Max Re House.

Although the new building technically has a Front Street address it sits directly across from the headquarters of insurance giants XL and ACE.

Other insurance companies residing along the strip include BF&M, Allianz, Partner Re and Centre Solutions.

Contractors for the project, Global Construction, yesterday called the building "substantially" completed with its full completion by next month.

Max Re, which is currently housed in Ascot House on Queen Street has said it plans to move to its new headquarters early next year. On hand for yesterday's celebration of the new building - which was formerly Heritage House - were property owners Jay Bluck and Sherry Wakefield, numerous representatives from Max Re as the new tenants and including CEO Robert Cooney, Global Construction management and crew, Architects Linberg & Simmons, and Stephen Kempe of Admiral Management, who acted as advisors to the owners.

The roof wetting ceremony followed a blessing by Rev. Alan Garrity. Missing from yesterday's roof wetting were project manager Don Jolliffe and Admiral's Richard Kempe. Max Re Capital Ltd reportedly built Max Re House through its principal operating subsidiary, Max Re Ltd.