Birmingham University Station

Construction constraints included the adjoining Canal, an Ancient Monument, pre-booked rail possessions and the requirement for the station to remain open throughout construction.

One of the new station buildings formed an island, located between the railway line and adjacent canal. To solve this problem, the team used innovative approaches with a pre-modularised construction method, meaning materials were manufactured off site before being craned over onto the island and assembled rapidly on site. For example, the team carried out:

• Technical cofferdam works needed on the canal, with the Canal and River Trust
• Overnight possessions of the railway lines to install two footbridges

The redevelopment of the station was part of the West Midlands Rail Programme, which is led by Transport for West Midlands and the West Midlands Rail Executive. This project brought together 13 different organisations, which involved  forming excellent relationships with, and secured funding from, adjacent landowners (University of Birmingham and University Hospitals Birmingham) and Birmingham City Council. This was vital for the ambition and the success of the project. Owing to the number of organisations coming together, senior project leaders established a set of key values focused on collaboration and health and safety – which all parties bought into.

Careful, detailed planning and clash detection using BIM digital tools supported the team in successfully coordinating the huge logistical challenge of constructing the new station without any impact on the existing station. For example craning the cladding in five sequential lifts over the canal and railway lines and into position during key possessions that were programmed down to the hour.

Weekly design coordination meetings reviewed the model, resolved clashes and informed construction sequencing. This was essential to the staged release of design packages for construction and accurate offsite manufacturing.  It also enabled us to minimise the temporary works required for both pavilions to be successfully erected within two 72-hour railway possessions.

In addition to buildability and logistical challenges, the team used the model to successfully engage with the project’s multiple stakeholders, to secure all necessary approvals for works to proceed. 
 

The project achieved BREEAM Very Good status thanks to a collaborative effort between partners and the supply chain.

The use of Design for Manufacture and Assembly and off-site fabrication allowed the use of high-strength concrete and minimised any concrete wastage. The exposed finishes also minimised the need for painting, finishing and fire protection. The use of Modern Methods of Construction systems for the external cladding reduced the amount of embodied carbon from the original scheme design.

Through a combination of photovoltaic panels installed on the roof, additional insulation for conditioned spaces and high efficiency luminaires, the design was able to reduce future operational carbon expenditure. The building design and building management system installed optimises the use of naturally vented concourse areas to limit overheating.

A rich and biodiverse public realm has also replaced previous hard surfacing and disused land, providing improved facilities for cyclists and an enhanced station experience.

VolkerFitzpatrick and Van Elle came together to provide a virtual work experience event, for students studying construction, ranging from levels 1-3. Over 50 students attended and were helped to understand the breadth of options and different pathways available in construction. 

Following the virtual work experience event, students from Walsall College were given the opportunity to complete their T-Level qualifications onsite. Aged between 17 and 18, three T-Level students were welcomed on site. Studying their T-Level vocational training in design, surveying and planning, they completed four weeks trainings onsite at the University Station before moving on to a sister VolkerFitzpatrick site (Camp Hill Lines).  They gained valuable experience to support the completion of their qualification. 

The team on the University station project arranged for 50 tonnes of chippings produced on site to be delivered to the University of Birmingham’s Recycling Centre at the Elms. This material was saved to be used as mulch for landscape public areas around the campus.