Mace wins 17th industry award for Birmingham New Street station at Building Awards
On 8th November 2016, Mace took home the Major Project of the Year Building Award for Birmingham New Street station.
At a glamorous ceremony marking the event’s 22nd edition at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London, Mace celebrated the station’s win and overall industry success.
Mace reconstructed Birmingham’s main railway station and shopping mall – Grand Central, which opened last year. Birmingham’s original station was built to hold 60,000 passengers per day but by 2010, Birmingham New Street was dealing with an average of 140,000 passengers every day.
The vertical access from concourse to the 12 operational platforms was wildly inadequate with only two set of stairs per platform, two direct lifts and five escalators in total. The station also acted as a block right across the centre of the city making it impossible for significant investment in the south side of the city.
In collaboration with Network Rail, the design and delivery teams applied the latest technologies and innovations including using BIM to create digital models, which allowed the delivery team to identify efficiencies in the design process.
This helped to plan and manage construction works and integrate a modular ‘service spine’, prefabricated off-site in 24 modules installed in just 15 days, which saved over 10,000 site working hours and reduced carbon emissions by 57%.
The concourse is now over five times its original size with an atrium roof the size of a football pitch, flooding natural daylight onto the concourse and acting as a cathedral-like centre-piece to the stunning new station. There are 28 new escalators, 14 staircases and 14 new lifts that provide better access for all passengers from platform to concourse level.
Three new concourse waiting areas have been created with clear train information, high quality retail outlets and extra seating for passengers. Links with buses and taxis have been provided to create a seamless onwards journey, improving the customer experience by providing integrated transport options.
Jason Millett, COO for Major Programmes and Infrastructure at Mace, said: “Congratulations to everyone involved for winning this prestigious award. Birmingham New Street’s redevelopment benefits the local community and everyday visitors who travel in and out of the city, which is what it’s all about. The team showed great drive, enthusiasm and weren’t afraid of using innovations and technology to improve the project’s delivery.”
Martyn Woodhouse, Mace’s Project Director for the project, said: “Thank you to the Building Awards for such a significant industry accolade. Being a part of the Birmingham New Street team was a pleasure. Everyone from all corners of the project worked together and made it a success. I’m extremely proud to have made the station better for the local people and visitors that use the service every day.”
