Inside Birmingham’s Exchange

Site visit Take a virtual trip to Birmingham’s new university hub

The Exchange’s client, contractor and architect will offer background information on the redevelopment of the Grade II-listed building

Members can take a trip around

Birmingham University’s new citycentre hub, The Exchange, next month.

With Mace as project manager and Galliford Try as contractor, the university is developing Birmingham’s former Municipal Bank, one of the city’s best-known civic buildings, in Centenary Square.

The virtual site tour will run on 31 March, offering an insight from the client, contractor and architect. It will focus on the building’s history, the university’s vision for the building and the associated design and construction challenges faced when redeveloping a Grade II listed building within a city centre location.

Above: The former Municipal Bank in Centenary Square will become a research centre with a cafe and bookable spaces

The Exchange will act as the catalyst for a range of city and community-focused research, teaching and engagement activities, including exhibitions, talks, workshops and seminars, as well as providing dedicated facilities for collaboration across a number of key themes. It will also house a public cafe and bookable spaces. ●

The webinar will take place on Wednesday 31 March, 12-1pm. Please book online or contact gfloyd@ciob.org.uk.

University CBC moves up a degree with Bournemouth build

Greendale delivers refurb to schedule despite pandemic

Chartered builder Greendale Construction has handed over phase two of Christchurch House, on Bournemouth University’s Talbot Campus, on time and to budget, despite the challenges of the pandemic.

The 20-week, £1.5m contract involved the complete refurbishment of the north wing of the second floor, as the second phase of a project to redevelop the whole second floor.

The works included the formation of new teaching laboratories, new microbiology laboratory with associated prep room and autoclave room, new toxicology laboratory with prep room and new project lab.