arena central, birmingham

The prominent site within Birmingham’s City Centre is adjacent to Richard Seifert’s Alpha Tower and part of the Arena Central masterplan.

The proposal responds to the angled geometry of the site by creating two blocks pivoting around a core. 324 apartments and 405 sqm of commercial space are provided over one block of 24 storeys and one block of 19 stories. The taller block denotes the edge of the site, providing a marker along Queensway, a busy arterial route.

The ground floor contains commercial accommodation to activate the surrounding public realm. The blocks divide to allow access in-between and the taller block cantilevers out over the ground floor facing onto Queensway to create a landscaped entry zone into the site.

The building utilises a precast concrete frame which contains the apartment balconies and responds to the largely commercial context.