Infrastructure Project of the Year 2023 awarded to VolkerFitzpatrick's Birmingham University Station
VolkerFitzpatrick is delighted to announce that Birmingham's University Station is the Institution of Structural Engineers IStructE Midland Counties Infrastructure Project of the Year 2023.
University Station Birmingham is a significant rail transport link within the West Midlands. The original station was tired, with constrained access to the university and the hospital, and dealing with significantly higher passenger numbers than it was designed for, resulting in overcrowding during busy periods. The connectivity of the site was restricted by the linear features of the electrified railway, the Worcester to Birmingham Canal and the Metchley Roman Fort Scheduled Ancient Monument.
When open, the station setting will provide a gateway to the area, supporting major increases in economic activity, as well as providing a rich and biodiverse public realm, enhanced passenger facilities and promote sustainable rail transport and active travel options to the university and hospital.
This £50 million project overcame these challenges through the provision of new circulation routes and pavilion buildings, creating a sense of arrival whilst providing enhanced passenger facilities. A rich and biodiverse public realm has replaced previous hard surfacing and disused land, providing improved facilities for cyclists and an enhanced station experience.
Design for manufacture and assembly (DfMA) was the best way to deliver to programme on this constrained site. The key project railway possessions had already been agreed and determined. We maximised the benefits of digital delivery throughout. This provided confidence to our client (and ultimate clients) that the various opportunities identified within the supply chain could work together to deliver this scheme: providing solutions that would be acceptable and achieve Network Rail approval. The construction approach adopted different MMC strategies to ensure multiple construction activities programme could run concurrently where possible.
The station setting provides a gateway to the area, supporting major increases in economic activity, infrastructure development and promoting sustainable rail transport.
