New Street Gateway Project - Station Redevelopment
2008-
Foreign Office Architects


photo © webbaviation

Sep 2008

The striking concept designs, clad in shimmering, reflective metal, will create a bold, modern gateway to the city for the millions of people using the station each year.

The iconic design is the work of the renowned Foreign Office Architects.
They beat dozens of rivals, including many of the world's top practices to win an international competition and land the prestigious project.



Speaking at the launch event, Cllr Mike Whitby, chairman of the New Street Gateway Funders' Board, said: "The Birmingham Gateway, which will support over 52m passengers a year, demands a world class architectural vision to embody the rebirth of New Street station.

"With the world looking on, this breathtaking design firmly places Birmingham on the international map for very high quality, daring design.

"Alejandro Zaera-Polo's bold architecture symbolises Birmingham's arrival over the last few years as a globally relevant city looking to its future, as a connected international hub, to the advantage of citizen and investor alike.

"I would like to thank Foreign Office Architect's and the selection panel for their hard work. The Gateway project will enrich the continuing regeneration of Birmingham, and enhance our reputation as a truly world class city."

Alejandro Zaera-Polo, principal architect for Foreign Office Architects,
stated:

"We were inspired by the movement of people and trains at New Street and the beauty of the skyline. Our concept reflects all these components.

" We are proud to work on such an important project and I look forward to being part of the integrated team which takes this vital scheme from concept to reality."

The station will be covered in reflective sheets of carefully crafted and finished metal and will incorporate three high technology digital displays which will make the entrances to New Street clear and easy to find.

Passengers will also enjoy the benefits of a re-designed atrium area which will flood the station with light.



The £600 million Gateway project, a joint scheme between Birmingham City Council, Network Rail, Advantage West Midlands and Centro, will double passenger capacity and create:

a concourse that is three-and-a-half times bigger than at present and enclosed by a giant light-filled atrium more accessible, brighter and clearer platforms, serviced by 42 new escalators and 14 new lifts an iconic new station façade, adding to Birmingham's growing reputation for good design better links to and through the station for pedestrians with eight new entrances the stimulus for the physical regeneration of the areas surrounding the station leading to the potential creation of over 10,000 new jobs across the city.
Sir Bernard Zissman, chairman of the judging panel to choose the design commented

"It has been a huge privilege to chair a panel of committed and experienced people dedicated to choosing a design which will bring to an end the tired and outdated image of New Street station giving such a poor impression of the City of Birmingham.

"Most rewarding of all was to experience the talented presentations of six leading global architects which made the choice one of the most challenging decisions of my career and I suspect of the entire panel too.
We hope the chosen design will not just add to the revitalisation of the station and city centre but will give a sense of excitement and pleasure to the passengers who start or finish a journey as well as those who visit it to shop and enjoy themselves."

Iain Coucher, chief executive of Network Rail stated:

"Passengers have come to expect better, quicker and more reliable journeys, and stations fit for the 21st century. We listened to the people of Birmingham and made New Street a top priority - with this new design we can be sure of a top class station for the millions of people who use it every year."

Mick Laverty, chief executive at Advantage West Midlands, said:

"This region has a proud track record of reinvention and ingenuity - and you only need to look at the impressive design unveiled today to realise the ambition we have not only to create a memorable gateway into the region, but also to regenerate the south side of Birmingham city centre.

"Our £100 million contribution is the largest investment in a single project by any regional development agency in the country.

"It is an investment that will have real impact - New Street Gateway has a vital role to play in fulfilling the vision of the West Midlands as a global centre where people and businesses choose to connect."

Cllr Gary Clarke, chairman of Centro, the region's passenger transport authority, said: "This exciting design will see New Street station become an iconic landmark for the city. It is also an important step in our efforts to transform public transport in the West Midlands and create a truly world class system.

The concept designs will now be developed by an integrated team which will include Foreign Office Architects, WS Atkins (Lead Consultant) and Mace (Delivery Partner). The team will be led by Network Rail.



Birmingham New Street : Birmingham Building

Birmingham Architects

The New Street Gateway Steering Group is made up of representatives from:
Birmingham City Council, Network Rail, Centro and Advantage West Midlands.

The international design competition was coordinated by RIBA, on behalf of the funding partners. The final design was chosen by a panel of representatives from each of the funding partners, chaired by Sir Bernard Zissman.

The announcement marks the end of an international design competition which attracted 48 entries from around the globe.

Foreign Office Architects was formed in 1995 and has emerged as one of the most innovative practices of architecture and urban design in recent years. FOA's award winning work includes the Yokahoma International Port Terminal in Japan. For more information please go to:
www.f-o-a.net

www.newstreetnewstart.co.uk

Previously:
Release from RIBA 7 January 2008
Selection of Visionary Concept Designer:
New Street Gateway Project - redevelopment of Birmingham New Street Station and its environs

The RIBA is pleased to announce the launch of a selection process for a Concept Designer to develop the overarching building vision for the project to redevelop Birmingham’s New Street Station and surrounding area. The RIBA Competitions Office is managing the selection process on behalf of the New Street Gateway partnership, which involves Network Rail; Birmingham City Council; Advantage West Midlands; Centro (West Midlands Passenger Transport Executive) and the Department for Transport (DfT).

The Concept Designer will be responsible for defining the external form of the proposed flagship £550m redevelopment and maintaining a strong architectural language for the site’s external façades and atrium roof aspects of the project throughout the stages of the design development.

Martin Chambers, Network Rail’s Project Director said: ‘This is an excellent opportunity to create a design that lives up to the station’s status as one of the most important rail hubs in the country. Its design will need to act on both a functional and symbolic level and reflect the aspirations of modern day Birmingham and the wider West Midlands region.’

Councillor Mike Whitby, Chairman of the Gateway Steering Group and Leader of the City Council said: ‘Achieving a first-class design for the redeveloped New Street Station is a fundamental part of our drive to further Birmingham’s position on the world stage, which is the core of our City Centre Masterplan. We want to create an attractive and iconic landmark for local people and the 30 million plus visitors who come to Birmingham each year. I hope that with some imaginative design, New Street will act as a beacon of good design at the heart of our regenerated city centre.’

With the volume of passengers expected to grow over the next twenty years, Birmingham New Steeet Station in its current format will have insufficient capacity to meet the forecast passenger demand. The New Street Gateway project has been drawn up in response to address the challenges the current station faces.

A provisional sum of £30 million (Q2 2005 prices) has been allocated for the atrium space and external façade works. Although the external envelope may help to inform the interior, the detailed reconfiguration of the station, its organisational structure and operation has been the subject of a previous contract. The winning Concept Designer will work with an Integrated Project Team (primarily consisting of Network Rail, a Delivery Partner and a Lead Consultant) to ensure that the overall vision is achieved.

From the initial Expressions of Interest, up to six designers will be invited to produce an architectural model and concept design sketches in response to the site context, and attend an interview to outline their vision to the Jury Panel. Each of the short-listed teams will receive an honorarium payment of GBP £10,000 (plus VAT). For a Preliminary Briefing Paper and details of how to enter the competition please contact the RIBA Competitions Office: Tel. +44(0)113-234-1335. The Expression of Interest deadline is 28 January 2008.

Birmingham office building

Birmingham landmark

RIBA Competitions Office offers a tailored competition management service delivering excellence in design. For further details visit www.architecture.com/competitions.

The Government announced £128 million of funding for New Street Gateway in July 2007.

Further decisions as part of the Department for Transport’s Regional Funding Allocation, and a joint Birmingham City Council / Advantage West Midlands bid for money from the Department of Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (DBERR) are expected to be made in the New Year.
In total, the New Street Gateway Steering Committee has bid for £350 million in public money to fund the redevelopment, which once secured, will unlock a further £200 million in private sector investment for the scheme.
New Street Gateway will see the 1960’s built station undergo a dramatic redevelopment, transforming the dark, crowded underground station into a bright, modern 21st Century transport hub for Birmingham and the West Midlands region.
The Project will double passenger capacity of the station, relieving congestion and be a catalyst for creating more than 5,000 jobs. The Project will redevelop and regenerate the area around the station and will include better pedestrian connections right across the city centre.
The New Street Gateway Steering Group is made up of representatives from: Birmingham City Council; Network Rail; Centro WMPTA and Advantage West Midlands.



World Architecture : e-architect - a guide to key buildings across the globe

Birmingham New Street redevelopment - initial architect : John McAslan

English Architecture

Birmingham Architecture Competition : Bentley Library

Birmingham Library Building

London Railway Stations

Comments / photos for the Birmingham New Street Station Architecture page welcome: info@e-architect.co.uk

Birmingham New Street Station - page : adrian welch / isabelle lomholt