NIA redevelopment steels the canal scene

January 14, 2014

NIA redevelopment steels the canal scene

Work on the redevelopment of the NIA,
NIA redevelopment seeks permission, has moved apace with steelwork now revealing the dramatic canal frontage that will transform it's appearance with a glass front facade.

Work has been ongoing since June 2013 following the appointment of contractor BAM Construction Ltd with the Express & Star reporting, http://www.expressandstar.com/news/2013/08/17/race-against-time-for-transformation-of-birmingham-nia/, on the rapid works which needed to be complete prior to September 2013 ahead of visiting stars. The first 13 phases took place over the summer with work taking place on backstage areas including the control room and production offices.

The following lists what is currently happening, reproduced from the NIA website, http://future.thenia.co.uk/faq/builddetail-2014-winter/.

Arena level
Perimeter brickwork and blockwork for new toilet block commences Dec 2013
Glazing for new façade commences Dec 2013
Fit-out of new arena areas in progress
Rolling refurbishment of existing team locker rooms completes at end of Feb 2014
Structure of units 3-5 erected in Feb 2014

Concourse level
North entrance internal finishes completed Dec 2013
Public access through new entrance available Jan 2014
Fit out works commence Jan 2014
New façade curtain walling substantially complete Feb 2014
Structure of units 3-5 erected in Feb 2014

Level 03 Mezzanine
Fit out works commence 2014
Main façade curtain walling erected

The Birmingham Mail reported, http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/whats-on/whats-on-news/black-sabbath-open-new-star-6503272, that Black Sabbath opened the new star dressing rooms, offering visiting artists a more comfortable stay in the venue, on their recent tour to the venue.

The finished works will see public space increased by 59,000 square feet and this summer new seats will be installed adding an extra three inches of leg room and replacing the old seats which have been a fixture since the NIA opened in 1991, http://www.expressandstar.com/news/2013/08/17/race-against-time-for-transformation-of-birmingham-nia/

Redevelopment is due to complete January 2015 and Barclaycard will have naming rights as part of a five year sponsorship between the NIA and Barclaycard.

The redevelopment also comes ahead of the successful award to Birmingham of the 2018 IAAF World Indoor Championships following the successful hosting of the event in 2003 and it's European equivalent in 2007, http://future.thenia.co.uk/whats-happening/news/birmingham-wins-bid-to-host-world-championship-event/

"During our bid presentation the president of the IAAF confirmed that Birmingham's staging of the World Indoor Athletics in 2003 was the best ever and expressed his confidence that in 2018 Birmingham will be better still.
"Winning these Championships seals Birmingham's reputation as the pre-eminent athletics city, and gives us the opportunity to showcase the city to a global audience. It will also create a fantastic legacy to inspire everyone in the city to get involved in sport and give an estimated economic boost of more than £20 million."
http://future.thenia.co.uk/whats-happening/news/birmingham-wins-bid-to-host-world-championship-event/

Planning images reproduced from the NIA website and planning documents, http://future.thenia.co.uk/building-plans/, are shown below: