IN PICTURES: Transformed Birmingham New Street Station unveiled
Natural light has flooded the giant atrium at Birmingham New Street for the first time as demolition work comes to an end.
The stunning glass feature, which covers the size of a football pitch, will greet visitors to the station when its multi-million pound transformation is completed later this year along with the Grand Central shopping complex.
More than 6,000 tonnes of concrete has been removed from under the new atrium allowing light to shine on to the new concourse for the first time.
Now the demolition work has been completed, new structures will be hung from the atrium steelwork so work can begin to attach the streamline cladding to the atrium's interior ready for the station's opening in September.
Network Rail's project director for Birmingham New Street, Chris Montgomery, said: "The completion of this work marks a huge milestone for the project. Building the atrium roof and removing such a large amount of concrete from the centre of the building was a huge feat of engineering."
Grand Central development director, Richard Brown, said: "This is an exciting point in the Grand Central journey as we get closer to completing the major transformational change that the former Pallasades shopping centre has gone through. The work which has been going on behind the scenes and on site is truly incredible.
"Grand Central will be the jewel in Birmingham's retail crown, delivering a unique shopper experience which will look and feel distinctly different to other centres. We are pleased to be moving into the next stage of the project after which the retailers will begin to fit out the interiors of their new shops."
The summer months will bring a hive of activity with the new concourse being fitted out with finishes to the waiting rooms, shops and public facilities. The Navigation Street bridge will reopen to the public, the remainder of the station's main wall and other hoardings will be removed and the final finishes will be completed.
Shops due to open at Grand Central along with anchor store John Lewis, include The White Company, Office Shoes, Cath Kidston, L'Occitane, Square Pie, Tapas Revolution and Crepe Affaire.
