Tuesday 11 Dec 2012
First glimpse of New Street’s bright future
- Region & Route:
An early glimpse of Birmingham New Street’s bright future appeared this week as the first sections of the station and new retail destination's stunning new façade were installed.
Workers have started the huge task of installing 8,000 reflective stainless steel panels which will eventually envelop the entire building. When complete in 2015, the façade will transform the drab, grey station building which has dominated the city centre for the last 40 years into a futuristic transport hub and aspirational retail destination for Birmingham.
Chris Montgomery, project director, Network Rail said: “The redevelopment of New Street will transform the station for the thousands of passengers who use it every day and allow it to handle the ever increasing numbers of people who want to use the railways. The start of work on the façade is significant as it’s the first step towards delivering a stunning new building which through new retail, public space and better access will stimulate regeneration and create hundreds of new jobs in the heart of Birmingham.”
The north side of the building and new north west corner entrance, above Stephenson Street will be the first area of the building to be clad in the reflective steel facade. This area is expected to be complete when the switchover of the station happens in April 2013. The installation of the façade will then progress in a broadly anti clockwise direction around the station with the west, south and finally, in 2015, the east elevations of the building being clad.
Sir Albert Bore, leader of Birmingham City Council said: "The start of work on New Street's stunning new façade marks an important step forward into transforming the building into a landmark Birmingham can be proud of. This is a vital project for the city, providing for future passenger growth, stimulating economic growth and regeneration and, in the newly-named Grand Central, it will provide one of the best-connected retail spaces in the country.”
Transport Minister Simon Burns said: “Birmingham New Street railway station has long had a reputation for being dingy and unwelcoming and in recent years it has become clear it is struggling to cope with the unprecedented growth in passenger numbers.
“That is why the Government has contributed £160m towards transforming the station into a modern, bright 21st century gateway for Birmingham. The unveiling of these new panels offers passengers an exciting glimpse at the redevelopment of the station, a major construction project in its own right and a key enabler of economic growth.”
Cllr John McNicholas, chairman of transport authority Centro, added: “It's fantastic to see the outside of what will be an iconic building, start to take shape.
“This new station, with a Midland Metro tram link stopping right outside, will give West Midlands passengers the high quality public transport they need and deserve."
Notes to editors
The redevelopment of Birmingham New Street station and the Pallasades Shopping Centre into Grand Central Birmingham is backed by Birmingham City Council, Network Rail, Department for Transport, Centro and Advantage West Midlands.
Network Rail is delivering the project alongside its delivery partner Mace. New Street station and the Pallasades Shopping Centre will remain open throughout the redevelopment.
An international competition was held in 2007 for the concept design of the redeveloped station. The brief was to come up with a design that would transform the existing station building into a 21st century transport hub fit for Britain’s second city.
The competition was won by Foreign Office Architects, (now AZPA) Alejandro Zaera-Polo, with a design that clad the existing concrete structure of the building in a flowing, reflective stainless steel façade which is designed to reflect back the movement and life of the city centre.
The façade is being installed by Martifer, a specialist stainless steel construction contractor.
The steel which will be used at New Street is produced by Outokumpu and is cut and finished at their facility in Sheffield.
About 20,000 sq metres or 1,100 tonnes of steel will make up the façade - this includes of 800 tonnes supporting steelwork and 300 tonnes of facade.
Comprising around 8,000 stainless steel panels, supported by more than half a million fixing structures, every panel is unique, in order to adjust to the peculiar geometry of the building.
The north elevation of the building above Stephenson Street will be the first area to be clad in the façade. This elevation will be around 1000 sq m. Now installation is underway, the Martifer team expect to install around 20 sq m of façade per day.
Once the north elevation is complete, installation will proceed broadly, in an anti clockwise direction around the building with the west, south (John Lewis) and finally east elevations being clad.
Upon completion in 2015, the redevelopment of New Street station and the Pallasades shopping centre will deliver:
Space to accommodate passenger growth: the new concourse will be three and a half times bigger than at present and will be enclosed by a giant atrium which will flood the station concourse and shopping centre with natural light.
Better access for all: over 30 new escalators and 15 new public lifts will make it much easier to travel between the platforms and the concourse above.
Cutting edge design: a stunning new station façade will create a new landmark building in the heart of Birmingham.
A revitalised city centre: the new Grand Central Birmingham anchored by the John Lewis department store will offer new retail brands alongside quality places to eat and drink, cementing Birmingham’s reputation as one of the UK’s top retail destinations.
Regeneration and economic growth: new pedestrian links will open up the city centre, stimulating regeneration and creating new jobs. We’re also working to open up job opportunities to the local workforce during construction.
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