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Friday 18 Jul 2014

Birmingham New Street milestone reached as atrium roof begins to take shape

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The first strips of material which will cover the roof of the new atrium at Birmingham New Street station and allow the concourse to be filled with natural light have been fitted into place.

The material, which is the same as that used at the Eden Project in Cornwall, will allow for daylight to illuminate the station concourse for the first time in its history.

Wearing safety harnesses and equipment usually associated with climbers and assailers, the team working on the new station and Grand Central development carefully secured the material over the first sections of the steelwork which will form the roof over the impressive atrium below.

Known as ETFE - or ethylene tetrafluoroethylene – the translucent material is strong, durable, has a high corrosion resistance, is self-cleaning and recyclable. It is also much lighter than glass, a significant benefit when the new development is being built directly on top of Birmingham New Street station underneath.

Chris Montgomery, Network Rail project director, said: “The first pieces of cladding being attached to the atrium roof is a significant milestone in the building of the new station and Grand Central development. The specially designed sheets will be fitted to the structure over the next few months and will become an instantly recognisable part of the Birmingham skyline.

“Once the structure is completely waterproofed we will be able to start the demolition of the floors beneath it to create the impressive atrium which will allow natural light to fill the station concourse for the first time.”

The ETFE material has also been used to cover the outside of Bayern Munich’s Allianz Arena and the Beijing National Aquatics centre. The redeveloped Birmingham New Street station and Grand Central development are due to open in 2015