Futuristic makeover starts at Birmingham New Street
Workers have started installing 8,000 reflective stainless steel panels at the site of the landmark New Street Station development in Birmingham.
The panels at the £600m development will eventually envelop the entire building and transform the grey station building which has dominated the city centre for the last 40 years into a futuristic transport hub and retail destination for Birmingham.
The station is due to be completed in 2015.
Chris Montgomery, project director at 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 facade 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. This area is expected to be complete by next April.
The installation of the facade 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 facade marks an important step forward.
"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."
