Birmingham New Street Gateway

Constructed in the 1960s, New Street is now outdated and overcrowded, handling more than double the amount of passengers it was designed to accomodate. A massive transformation project is now underway through the partnership of Network Rail, Birmingham City Council, Advantage West Midlands, Centro and the Department for Transport that will turn it into a 21st century hub for the entire region, with capacity to handle up to 250,000 passengers each day. Network Rail appointed Mace as the delivery partner in 2008 and following a successful initial phase, secured a further appointment as the principal contractor. Having integrated fully with the project team, Mace has pushed the programme to meet the requirements of the client and its customers.

Featuring an external façade made up of 400 tons of stainless steel, and a light-filled atrium covering a concourse three and a half times the size of its predecessor, the complex project requires an innovative delivery approach. The station will remain fully operational throughout construction, and Mace, working with Network Rail, is responsible for minimising disruption to rail passengers and shoppers and enabling operators to maintain uninterrupted train services. In addition to logistics management, the Mace team is coordinating more than 50 work packages involved in the development, which is subject to intense public scrutiny. The team has selected the best materials and construction techniques and is demonstrating the quality of the finished design.