HSBC Birmingham HQ construction update

They say 24 hours is a long time in politics but four days, since my last update, in the construction of the new HSBC UK headquarters in Birmingham has seen the lift cores rise higher and further reveal the scale of the new headquarters, http://birminghamcentral.blogspot.com/2016/08/banking-on-birminghams-future-hsbc-hq.html.  With the core rising 3 metres a day it has made a noticeable impact on the skyline, being visible from a number of different angles.

The taller core has now reached it's full height and will in turn give way to steelwork, due to arrive on site next week, which will surround it as the framework for the block is built.  This steelwork will be erected as work will move onto the second core, each working in turn, so that the steel structure will work in tandem with the rising second core.  

The Arena Central website has a fab timelapse video which shows the transformation of the site and as it concludes the rise of the two cores.

Arena Central in Birmingham - Timelapse progress from Core on Vimeo.

The site is reminiscent of recent Birmingham engineering challenges faced by the construction of the Library of Birmingham and New Street Station with the use of concrete, cantilevering and challenging sites.  The new building has a corner that overlaps a railway tunnel while overall the Arena Central site ground level falls by about 11m from Broad Street to Holliday Street.  The basement levels to accommodate the changing ground level and allow for services to sit at basement and roof level sees level -4 at it's deepest.  

This photo shows the scale of the site and you can see the geography of the change in level from Broad Street to Holliday Street.

The following photos were taken on a site tour on Tuesday 9 August kindly arranged by Core Marketing who are marketing the construction for contractors Galliford Try and HSBC UK.

Cladding example used to illustrate what the exterior will look like on a corner showing window reveal and detail.

Rear of 301 Broad Street, the former Municipal Bank, with work to prepare for the ground level slab for the new Bank Court public space will sit at ground level. 

Ramp that will connect to Bridge Street entrance.  The basement level of the HSBC offices sits as part of basement works for the forthcoming Arena Central 3 block.

Car park ramp in basement level.

View of steps and lift which will take you from the plaza adjacent to Alpha Tower to the Ground Floor level and Bank Court.  The corner of the building will overhang adjacent to these steps and this will require a temporary support until the building is fully constructed and able to support this.

Looking out to what will be Bank Court, adjacent to the Bank Court entrance, and with the new Holiday Inn express hotel tower under construction behind, http://birminghamcentral.blogspot.com/2012/07/room-occupied-birmingham-expands-hotel.html

The ground floor level, level with Broad Street, ready for concrete pouring.  The main entrance facing Broad Street is at this level.

View looking towards the Hall of Memory and Baskerville House, adjacent to the steps to Bank Court and Alpha Tower.

The cores.

A planning application has recently been submitted for perforated aluminium panels on the plant level to replace the original horizontal louvred facade to this level.  These panels continue the design of the building which is inspired by the Anglo-Saxon Staffordshire Hoard on display in the nearby Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery, http://birminghamcentral.blogspot.com/2010/03/birmingham-to-hoard-anglo-saxon-gold-as.html.

The design of the cladding to 2 Arena Central is inspired by the weaving patterns of the Anglo-Saxon treasure in the Staffordshire Hoard. In the rooftop screen we seek to reference these patterns more literally: developing and reinforcing the cladding concept for the whole building.

Some of these panels will be replaced by HSBC signage for which another planning application will be submitted.