Birmingham Central

Library of Birmingham January 2012 Update

noreply@blogger.com (Simon P Felton) — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 23:46:00 +0000

Here is an update on the new Library of Birmingham construction from 10 January 2012.
Work is rapidly moving forward to the complete covering of the structure in the metal frieze during January / February as the Carillion update below notes together with progress on the link between the new library and REP theatre.

Photos of the construction from the 10 January 2012.

Supermarket sweep - Morrisons Five Ways preparatory work

noreply@blogger.com (Simon P Felton) — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 20:47:00 +0000

Preparatory work for the new Morrisons supermarket at Five Ways, Supermarket Sweep(ing) away Edgbaston redevelopment, has begun.

The pictures below show the site and work taking place in preparation for the construction. The new supermarket will cover over 50,000 sq ft and open in Spring 2013. Construction will include a car park, five further retail units and office space, as well as the Morrisons store.

The photos below show preparatory works on the site.

11 January

10 January

6 January

Snowhill January Update

noreply@blogger.com (Simon P Felton) — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 22:49:00 +0000

Here is an update on the Two Snowhill development from the 10 January 2012 showing glazing being installed on the office block and the way in which panels are added to the structure.

Christmas Presents New Bridge for New Street

noreply@blogger.com (Simon P Felton) — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 22:55:00 +0000

While many of us were opening Christmas presents New Street Station was receiving it's very own present with engineers using a 700 tonne crane from Christmas Day to the 27 December to lift out an old section of the Navigation Street bridge and install new sections.

The extended bridge will open at the end of 2012 to provide access to all platforms and create a new station entrance on Hill Street.

Work also took place around the station while it was closed with the construction of a tower crane outside of the front of the station to construct the new public square, preparatory work on platforms 1 - 7 to construct the foundations for the new sqare, the construction of new train crew accommodation above Platform 1 and the removal of the old Pallasades link bridge and redundant structures to build the new John Lewis department store. Christmas sees ‘giant leap’ towards New Street transformation

Work to clad the station building in its iconic stainless steel facade is due to begin in the summer.
http://www.birminghammail.net/news/top-stories/2011/12/27/work-on-birmingham-new-street-station-revamp-continues-over-christmas-97319-30015370/#ixzz1hl7hqep3

Alongside construction work Network Rail and Birmingham City Council have also been preparing for the future of the Pallasades Shopping Centre when the redeveloped station opens with former Land Securities' retail leasing director Keith Stone appointed to lead the leasing of the shopping centre. Mr Stone will act as consultant on the 150,000 sq ft shopping centre changing as it seeks to become a high quality retail destination to compliment the new 250,000 sq ft John Lewis store.

Here are a series of photos showing progress on the bridge and associated works over the Christmas period.

25 December 2011

29 December 2011

31 December 2011
Newly installed crane at the front of the station.

7 January 2012
The work on the new pedestrian route behind the Odeon cinema.

Further preparation for the installation of steel cladding on Stephenson Street.

Snowhill December Update

noreply@blogger.com (Simon P Felton) — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 23:50:00 +0000

Here is an update on the Two Snowhill development from the 18 December showing progress moving onto glazing the block since my previous update, Snowhill November Update, of the 17 November.

Hotel La Tour wraps for Christmas

noreply@blogger.com (Simon P Felton) — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 23:38:00 +0000

Here is an update on the construction of Hotel La Tour from 18 December showing the cladding for the hotel continuing to envelope the building.

New Street December Update II

noreply@blogger.com (Simon P Felton) — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 23:18:00 +0000

Following my previous post, New Street to Bridge Christmas and Steel for year ahead, showing the redevelopment of New Street Station here are more pictures from the 18th December showing the works.

The former escalator on Station Street that will be removed during the Christmas station closure is clearly visible as is work to remove the glazing on the sections of the Navigation Street bridge ready for the new section to be lifted into place.

New Street to Bridge Christmas and Steel for year ahead

noreply@blogger.com (Simon P Felton) — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 01:30:00 +0000

With Christmas almost upon us work is speeding up at the New Street Station redevelopment as preparations are made for the installation of the bridge extension for the Navigation Street footbridge and work to remove the old Pallasades Shopping centre link bridge, escalator on Station Street and the installation of a crane outside the front of the station to construct the new public square, http://www.giselastuartmp.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/birmingham-gateway-update-autumn-2011.pdf. The foundations for the new public walkways on the east side of the station’s south entrance will also be built, http://www.rail.co/2011/12/08/centro-unveils-west-midlands-christmas-public-transport-services/

The bridge installation was due to take place during the rail network closures during Christmas 2010 but bad weather prevented the safe installation and engineers will be hoping there are no problems this year as Network Rail utilises the two day network and station closure on 25 and 26 December to install the new bridge.

Meanwhile work is continuing on the refurbishment of each platform in turn with Platform 12 reopening as Platform 10 closes for refurbishment. Work will return to Plaform 12 at a later date to install the lifts and escalators to the new concourse above.

Recent research for Network Rail on the value of transport regeneration projects predicts that the New Street Station redevelopment will help to create over 350,000 sq ft of new development to the south of the station and directly deliver up to 3,200 new jobs in the city centre with John Lewis' new store alone creating 650 new jobs, http://www.networkrail.co.uk/New-Street-investment.aspx

As well as providing benefits the improvements should help boost Network Rail's retail sales with Birmingham New Street already reporting the third highest upturn in year-on-year sales during Q3 2011, with trading growing 5.8 per cent, http://www.retailgazette.co.uk/articles/44000-station-retail-sales-continue-to-soar.

The photos below from the 15 and 17 December show work around the station. The photos of the 15 December show demolition work on the Pallasades shopping centre roof, the metal supports on Stephenson Street ready for the installation of the steel cladding and the continuing deconstruction of Stephenson Tower. The recently installed stairs to the platform level ready for the bridge extension are also visible.
The photos of the 17 December show the removal of the crane helping to deconstruct Stephenson Tower and preparation work at the front of the station ready for a new crane to help construct the new square.

15 December

17 December

Library of Birmingham December Update

noreply@blogger.com (Simon P Felton) — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 21:34:00 +0000

Here is an update on the Library of Birmingham from the 9th and 10th December showing the gold cladding nearing it's encasement of the archives floors and work continuing on the rooftop rotunda.

Work is also rapidly moving internally with the latest update from Carillion, reproduced below from BrumCityCentre.com blog, showing internal partions and floor screeds ongoing alongside travellator and escalator installation.

Meanwhile The Birmingham Mail has reported, Birmingham libraries to escape closure but hours will be cut, with news that all 39 of Birmingham's community libraries will remain open in spit of Government spending cuts.

The cabinet member for leisure, sport and culture said the 16 busiest community libraries would open for five days a week in future. All of the remaining 23 libraries will be restricted to a four-day week. http://www.birminghammail.net/news/top-stories/2011/12/07/birmingham-libraries-to-escape-closure-but-hours-will-be-cut-97319-29907662/

Photos of construction from the 9 and 10 December are shown below:

9 December

10 December

Priory Tennis Club Redevelopment November Update II

noreply@blogger.com (Simon P Felton) — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 23:31:00 +0000

Following my previous update of the 9 November, Priory Tennis Club Redevelopment November Update, here are photos from the 30 November showing progress on the Edgbaston Priory Club redevelopment. and the new Indoor Tennis Centre.

The structural steelwork was completed earlier in the month with work moving onto the vertical cladding. Work is also being undertaken on the sheeting to the main roof following the installation of the roof membrane. Concrete slabs to the ground floor of the central spine are being poured with preparation work at first floor level for the slabs, http://www.edgbastonpriory.com/pdfs/Phase_1_Progress_Report_9_Nov_2011.pdf

Work is progressing to schedule for the Indoor Tennis Centre to complete on the 12 March 2012.

Photos showing progress from the 30 November are shown below.

Dome closes crescent - Bramall Music Building Tops Out

noreply@blogger.com (Simon P Felton) — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 22:24:00 +0000

Acoustic Dimensions blog has reported on the topping out of the Bramall Music Building at the University of Birmingham which has seen the crescent of redbrick buildings in Chancellor's Court completed, Topping out of the long-awaited Bramall Music Building. The music building has reinstated the missing dome, Musical dome to complete Birmingham's redbrick vision, with Glenn Howells Architects following the intent of the other buildings, designed by Sir Aston Webb, in the crescent.

Glenn Howells Architects have worked with Acoustic Dimensions on the project which includes a 450 seat auditorium, domed rehearsal room, music studios and office and teaching space. Acoustic Dimensions have designed a number of special acoustical features (currently unique to this design) to accommodate the large range of uses for the auditorium which include the Electronic Music department, Early Music Performance Research and University Orchestra and 200 person chorus that needs to practice for performances at Symphony Hall, http://www.acousticdimensions.com/projects/pac/bramall.htm.

Photos showing the building from the 30 November are shown below.

Library of Birmingham Winter Update

noreply@blogger.com (Simon P Felton) — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 20:39:00 +0000

Here is an update on the construction of the new Library of Birmingham showing progress from the 26 November and 1 December.

With work progressing on completing the exterior and work taking place internally the Central Library is continuing it's preparations for moving to the new building with the closure of some parts of the current Central Library from Monday 12 December on specific days of the week and a reduction in opening hours.

The closures and reduced hours are required for the massive task of sorting, cataloguing, cleaning and organising the millions of books, archives and other resources in the Central Library.

Central Library’s opening hours will be changed to 10am – 6pm from Monday to Friday (previously 9am – 8pm), while Saturday hours will stay the same with the library open between 9am and 5pm. Floors four to six will remain closed on Mondays and Tuesdays and will also be closed on Saturdays from 12 December. The Music Library on the third floor of Central Library will close on Mondays and Tuesdays. The main reference enquiry desk on the fourth floor will remain open as normal from Wednesday to Friday. http://libraryblog.birmingham.gov.uk/2011/11/further-changes-to-services-at-birmingham-central-library-from-december-2011/

Work is also due to commence in the coming weeks on the dismantling of the Shakespeare Memorial Room, itself originally part of the Victorian library, so it can be moved and reconstructed in the new building where it will sit at the rotunda at the very top of the building.

26 November

1 December

Spice(al)ing up the Bullring - Spiceal Street opens

noreply@blogger.com (Simon P Felton) — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 22:59:00 +0000

After just under a year of a rapid construction since plans were first submitted for Spiceal Street in October 2010, Adding Spice(al) to the Bullring, the new development officially launched on Thursday 24.

The £7.5 million 20,000 ft² development saw Brindleyplace based Handmade Burger Co launch it's flagship UK restaurant together with new restaurants ChaoBaby and Browns Bar and Brasserie open. The development has also allowed Nando’s and Pizza Hut to extend their trading space by 54% and 20% respectively, http://www.financial-news.co.uk/3578/2011/11/birmingham-bullring-sees-further-growth/ The scheme has brought 105 new permanent jobs for local people.

The development increases the appeal of the Bullring, now in it's 8th year after opening in 2003, which has over 160 shops and 28 restaurants and cafes including flagship Forever 21 which was the brand's first European location.

The completion of the development also saw the unveiling of the artwork 'Timbre', Spinning spiceal surprise, by Wolfgang Buttress which was constructed from reclaimed copper from the relocated Spiral Café.

Also unveiled was a new water installation containing poetry co-written by two local artists. Simon Turner, a published page poet and Steve Camden (aka Polabear) a popular spoken word performer co-wrote the poem which is engraved on the granite stone of the water feature. The poem takes inspiration from the character of the area and city and follows the brief set by the Bullring when it unveiled the development in 2010 for local poets to create a verse or poem, which symbolised the redevelopment and new phase of Spiceal Street, http://www.spaghettigazetti.com/2011/11/local-poets-create-poem-for-spiceal.html.

Photos showing the completed development from the 27th November are shown below showing the new water feature which includes poetry and the Timbre artwork.

New Street November Update II

noreply@blogger.com (Simon P Felton) — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 00:09:00 +0000

Here is an update on the construction of New Street from the 22nd and 27th November showing the various works taking place for the redevelopment. The scale of the redevelopment saw demolition contractors Coleman & Co win Contract of the Year award at the World Demolition Summit, beating projects in Germany, the USA and Brazil, for it's work on what will become the new concourse.

With a live railway centimetres beneath their feet, and the Pallasades shopping centre above, Coleman & Company were appointed by Network Rail’s delivery partner Mace to safely remove over 7,000 tonnes of concrete from an old car park.

“The jurors were looking for the extra ordinary and that is what Coleman & Company provided by making Birmingham New Street Station, a very complicated job, look straight forward.”
http://www.rail.co/2011/11/17/new-street-engineering-gains-international-recognition/

The following photos show progress around the station with the deconstruction of Stephenson Tower continuing, with expected completion early 2012, and preparation for the fixing of the steel facade on Stephenson Street. Work is also taking place on the Pallasades roof to clear a section to provide light to the new concourse while demolition is taking place on the stairs and link bridges into the Pallasades on Station Street.

22nd November

27th November

With all this progress in the above pictures it is easy to forget the work taking place behind the scenes on the new concourse and the preparation for the lifting of the new Navigation Street Bridge during the Christmas blockade which was postponed from last year due to the bad weather.

Spice(al) countdown to opening day

noreply@blogger.com (Simon P Felton) — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 01:41:00 +0000

With just under one day to go before Spiceal Street launches work is taking place at a frenetic pace to complete the development before the launch on Thursday 24th November. Shoppers walking past the new Browns restaurant can see those lucky enough to test the restaurant's food and service being treated to a complimentary meal; I myself will have the privelege this evening and look forward to tasting Browns' excellent menu in Birmingham. The specially commissoned poem artwork is being installed next to the steps leading down to St Martins in the Bull Ring.

A few photos showing the finishing touches being completed from Tuesday 22nd November are shown below together with a few pictures of the dancers and JCB diggers preparing for the specially commissioned dance piece to launch the development.

Library of Birmingham November update II

noreply@blogger.com (Simon P Felton) — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 23:43:00 +0000

Here is an update on the Libary of Birmingham construction site from the 21st November. Work is continuing to install the cladding and construct the steel framework for the REP extension at the rear.

Birmingham Broadband Boost

noreply@blogger.com (Simon P Felton) — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 23:16:00 +0000

Birmingham City Council is aiming to use it's assets including 230 tower blocks, 95,000 lamp posts and other buildings to help tackle digital exclusion by creating a wireless network with speeds exceeding 3G, Birmingham council seeks £125m broadband network deal, Birmingham council aims to deploy £125m city-wide wireless broadband network.

The city council has advertised for a private company to help develop the six year contract for the network estimated to be worth £125m aimed at tackling digital exclusion.

The improvements planned for Birmingham come at the same time as a focus by the UK Government on supporting rural communities with access to broadband internet connections together with Rural communities to benefit from £8bn broadband funding from the European Commission.

Frankfurt takeover - Birmingham German Market opens

noreply@blogger.com (Simon P Felton) — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 23:34:00 +0000

Today saw the 11th Frankfurt German market open in Birmingham covering a one kilometre stretch along New Street into Centenary Square. The market, the largest authentic German market outside of Germany and Austria, will be open for 37 days and stretches from Rotunda Place by the Bullring along New Street all the way through Victoria and Chamberlain Squares into Centenary Square by the ICC. The market will feature 193 stalls, including an adjoining Christmas Craft Fair, and will see new two-storey stalls. The market will be open from 17 November until 23 December from 10am – 9pm daily.

The market was officially opened by His Excellency Mr Georg Boomgaarden, Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany and the Lord Mayor of Birmingham, Cllr Anita Ward and the Bishop of Birmingham David Urquhart.

Last year's festive market attracted over three million visitors, German(y) Presents, and this year's increased market should attract record visitors.

Together with the mixture of stalls selling authentic craft good, clothing and toys and German food, drinks and sweets there will also be live music, singing and entertainment from a special bandstand in Victoria Square on Thursdays, Fridays and weekends.

The market has become a firm fixture for Birmingham and helps attracts visitors from across the UK and boosts Birmingham's reputation with widespread coverage nationally and internationally, All that glitters: The world's best Christmas markets that will fill you with festive spirit.

The pictures below show the installation and preparation of the stalls from the 16th and 17th November.

Snowhill November Update

noreply@blogger.com (Simon P Felton) — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 22:57:00 +0000

Here is an update on the construction of the Two Snowhill office block from the 17th November showing rapid progress since my previous update of the 26th September, Snowhill September Update.

Kings Heath Square opens up

noreply@blogger.com (Simon P Felton) — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 23:03:00 +0000

Saturday 15th October saw the new Kings Heath Village Square, Kings Heath Squares for October date, officially opened by the Lord Mayor of Birmingham and blessed by the Bishop of Birmingham Rt Rev David Urquhart.

The opening was accompanied by bands playing and choirs singing as the space formerly made up of the churchyard of All Saints church and city highways land was opened creating a focal point for the town centre for community events and Kings Heath Farmers Market.

The new Village Square is part of a much bigger project to improve facilities in All Saints Church itself, to create a new venue for youth activities and a range of community buildings. The medical centre, day centre and other facilities are now open - the remaining phase will provide the new church hall. http://www.aboutmyarea.co.uk/West-Midlands/Birmingham/B14/News/Local-News/208216-The-new-face-of-Kings-Heath

The opening came ahead of all the works on the square being completed and the square has only recently seen all of the outstanding work completed; the completed square revealing a wonderful open that puts the church at the heart of Kings Heath and providing a focal point for different faiths and communities.

At the heart of the square is an elaborate labyrinth which is reproduced again in miniature form at the centre to symbolise eternity. The labyrinth sits alongside a mixture of work overflowing with symbolism through modern poetry, Biblical scripture and classical design and natural influences with grave stones relaid in the new surface and twenty new mosiacs, A-maze-ing. New Kings Heath square overflows with symbolic public art.

Designs around the central labyrinth draw from a wide range of sources: there is a beehive for community and order, chemical formulae, the ying-yang for balance and harmony - and many more.

The labyrinth itself came from workshops Simon did with local young people. They were encouraged to draw mazes and one of them drew inspiration from the arched window in All Saints Church. That pattern can now be seen repeated across the square.
http://www.aboutmyarea.co.uk/West-Midlands/Birmingham/B14/News/Local-News/208217-A-maze-ing-New-Kings-Heath-square-overflows-with-symbolic-public-art

Particularly popular in the new square are the bubble pavements which are small fountains either side of the main path into the church.

The following pictures from the 7th November show the square.

Spiceal Street November Update III

noreply@blogger.com (Simon P Felton) — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 22:14:00 +0000

With just over a week to go before the official launch of the Spiceal Street development at the Bullring on 24 November the finishing touches to the development are being completed. The photos below from 16 November show the restaurants fitted out and work finishing the paving and other finishes to the development.

The opening will be officially marked by a dance piece between man and machine at 11am in a performance by dance company Motionhouse involving six dancers and three JCB diggers. For those who miss this there will be a second performance of the dance piece at 6.30pm.

New Spiceal Street restaurant ChaoBaby will offer the chance to sample their Thai cuisine throughout the day while the Handmade Burger Co. will offer samples of their burgers and Nando’s, Urban Pie and Pizza Hut will be providing free treats from their menus. Jamie's Italian will have a Hig Road on their terrace from 11am until 8pm and will also be selling porchetta rolls, seasonal soups and mulled wine, http://www.browsebullring.co.uk/event/spiceal-street-opens-november-24th/

New Street November Update II

noreply@blogger.com (Simon P Felton) — Sun, 13 Nov 2011 22:10:00 +0000

Further to my previous update on redevelopment works at New Street Station, New Street November Update, here is an update from 13 November showing Stephenson Tower shrinking further as it is deconstructed and the removal of the steelwork from the former shop unit on the Pallasades Shopping Centre roof.

The deconstruction of Stephenson Tower.

The void which will be covered to create the new public square.

There also appears to be a test piece of the new concourse paving adjacent to WH Smith on the current concourse providing a clue to what the improved concourse will look like.

Spiceal Street November Update II

noreply@blogger.com (Simon P Felton) — Sun, 13 Nov 2011 21:15:00 +0000

With eleven days to go before the new Spiceal Street development opens work is nearing completion ensuring it is ready to open on 24th November. The photos below, from the 13th November, show the recently installed green wall and the near completion of paving together with the fitout of the restaurants.

Facing the top - Hotel La Tour tops out

noreply@blogger.com (Simon P Felton) — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 23:31:00 +0000

Thursday 10th November saw Hotel La Tour reach it's topping out milestone. While Hotel La Tour has finished it's rise upwards work is rapidly progressing on cladding the exterior with the limestone clad finish emerging onto Albert Street, Putting our face on, and the black granite clad finish reflecting the City Council's transport changes to Moor Street Queensway alongside the reflective glass on Albert Street, Connecting the Transport dots.

The limestone clad finish fronting Albert Street

The granite clad finish fronting Moor Street Queensway

I was given the privelege of a tour of the site on Wednesday 9th November and the photos below show the rapid progress internally with the shape of the hotel taking shape and allowing a real comparison to the scale of the hotel we have seen in renders, Hotel La Tour glazes it's way to opening.

Bedroom showing the Italian made pre-fitted bathroom on the right.

The conference floor roof terrace

The kitchen

The bar

The terrace leading from the bar.

The entrance lobby

Looking up from the base of the crane

With work rapidly moving forward and the hotel adding to the streetscape and regeneration of the Eastside area which is itself seeing work take place on the new Eastside City Park and Birmingham City University Eastside Campus the City Council and the owners of the Martineau Galleries site should surely seek to improve the streetscape opposite the new hotel.

With the council starting work on the new City Centre Interchanges and work to change the traffic priorities and order on Moor Street Queensway it must surely be in their and local developers interests to improve the appearance surrounding the site to improve visitors, investors and city residents' experiences and to encourage further investment. The temporary park on the site of the proposed new Magistrates' Court to replace the empty plot, while the new Magistrates' Court is postponed due to funding, shows what can be achieved with little effort.

New Street November Update

noreply@blogger.com (Simon P Felton) — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 23:30:00 +0000

While work has continued apace on the redevelopment of New Street Station, mostly away from the public's gaze, the visible transformation is starting to become apparent.

Work has moved along Stephenson Street, where prepatory work for the reflective steel cladding is being undertaken, to create the new north-west corner entrance. To allow construction work on this new entrance Birmingham City Council has agreed the road closure of Navigation Street on weekdays (Monday to Friday) with the road reopening at weekends. The new entrance will open at the end of December 2012 as part of the first phase of the station redevelopment and allowing work to take place on phase two redeveloping the existing station.

Meanwhile work will soon take place to create the new public square that will link the station to the Bullring. The first phase of the work to create the square will see the installation of a tower crane next to the existing approach to the front of the station adjacent to TK Maxx. There will be changes to traffic arrangements for this from Sunday 4 December with one of the two lanes on the approach road closed and a reduction in the number of short stay car parking spaces, Traffic arrangements at Birmingham New Street.

The image below, reproduced from http://www.newstreetnewstart.co.uk/construction-progress/latest-news/traffic-arrangements-at-birmingham-new-street.aspx, shows the traffic arrangements.

The following photos from the 1st and 5th November show ongoing progress around the station and most noticably the continuing demolition of the former shop unit on the Pallasades Shopping Centre roof and the deconstruction of Stephenson Tower with work also taking place on the pedestrian route behind the ODEON cinema.