CELEBRATING ICONIC STRUCTURES IN THE UK’S SECOND CITY

Historically renowned as a powerhouse of manufacturing and industry, Birmingham has a lot to celebrate. The UK’s second city is home to some of the most iconic structures in the country.

Birmingham boasts a rich heritage of design, architecture and construction ingenuity, from the famous Bullring to the largest public library in Europe. Reachable from most points in the UK within four hours, the city offers excellent transport links and is said to have more canals than Venice.

The effects of Birmingham’s growing landscape have spread far and wide. In regenerating the city, the population continues to soar and Birmingham has begun rivalling London in more ways than one. While the city’s built environment lies at the root of this progress, it has also catalysed a wealth of future investments .

This year Birmingham will play host to the Tall Buildings Conference being held on 13 June at the award-winning Millennium Point Conference Centre. In this issue of Tall Buildings Magazine, we highlight some of Birmingham’s most anticipated high-rise structures.

South Central Tower, Glancy Nicholls

Located on the corner of Bristol Street and Essex Street, South Central Tower is a 30-storey residential project delivering 166 high-end apartments. Due for completion in Q2 2024, the development forms part of a growing cultural and business hub.

Working with Regal Property Group, Glancy Nicholls designed South Central Tower’s features to reference the area's terracotta tradition. The development combines low-carbon materials and technologies to create a building that honours heritage while being environmentally conscious and future-proof.

Lisa Deering, Director of Glancy Nicholls Architects, will be at Tall Buildings Conference to talk about delivering a high-rise project that blends in with the unique aesthetic of Birmingham’s historical heritage.

The Octagon, Howells

The Octagon is a unique feat of design and engineering, offering the world’s first pure octagonal high-rise residential building. Taller than the iconic BT Tower, the Octagon will be 49-storeys of build-to-rent apartments. Developer Argent’s Regional Director Rob Groves described the project: “Our ambition with Octagon is simple. To build one of the finest apartment schemes ever seen in the UK. Everything about the building –its height, the size of the apartments themselves and their design, the views, and the location in the city centre – will be a first.”

Alan McCartney, Partner at Howells, will present a case study at Tall Buildings Conference about the project. His talk will give an overview of the concept behind the ambitious build and its delivery so far. Once complete, the Octagon will boast unparalleled panoramic city views from its 346 apartments.

Exchange Square (Phase 2), Stephenson Studio

The second phase of the Exchange Square development will bring a mixture of hotel, commercial, and business spaces to Birmingham.

Designed by Stephenson Studio, Exchange Square will become a landmark gateway to the city. Phase Two will be located adjacent to the residential development already completed by Stephenson Studio.

In his Tall Buildings Conference presentation, Keith Hamilton, Director of Stephenson Studio, will talk about how their design references the Brutiful Birmingham era of architecture. Brutiful Birmingham is a nod to the post-war design period that saw many of the most well-known landmarks constructed. Exchange Square is part of a £110 million masterplan by developer Nikal. Careful attention has been paid to the fire strategy of the building, with the plan including several additional safety features.

Building a Skyline for the Future

High-rise building continues to play an important role in the transformation of the Birmingham skyline. Many developments in planning or under construction will join existing builds like Cortland Broad Street, The Mercian, and 103 Colmore Row, the tallest office building outside London since 1973. The ongoing regeneration and modernisation of the city through innovative design and architecture has positioned many of Birmingham’s neighbourhoods as growing cultural districts alongside the likes of London’s trendy Shoreditch and Manchester’s Northern Quarter.

Building a skyline for the future requires careful consideration. Conversations, particularly around fire safety, sustainability and net zero, dominate today's construction environment. Tall Buildings Conference seeks to highlight success - and provide the opportunity to discuss and tackle complex issues facing the sector.

The city’s skyline has been transformed over the past 30 years, filled with the iconic landmarks that reflect the incredible investment into Birmingham. This growth can be traced back to 1985, where a £3 billion investment saw the inception of the ICC, Brindleyplace and the Bullring, to name a few.

Birmingham has long been on an upward trajectory in more ways than one. From the increasing number of employment opportunities to greater economic output, the city is thriving and the built environment will continue to be at the root of this success.