The Royal Institute of British Architects and the Landscape Institute, on behalf of Birmingham city council, have unveiled the proposals by the five firms shortlisted to redesign Birmingham’s iconic Centenary Square.
The finalists are:
• Atkins, Birmingham
• Barton Willmore, Reading
• Broadway Malyan, Birmingham
• Graeme Massie Architects, Edinburgh
• Open Studio Architects with United Visual Artists, London
A total of 185 entries were received from across the world and judged anonymously.
The five shortlisted companies will now develop their initial concepts and their schemes will go on public display in the city in May. A final decision on the winning entry will be announced in June.
The project is being funded via the Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership’s £275m enterprise zone investment plan.
Chris Webster, board director at the GBSLEP, said: “The GBSLEP’s enterprise zone investment plan has been designed to support development and public realm improvements within the city centre and the wider LEP region in order to drive economic growth.
“Our ambitions for Centenary Square are to create an attractive environment in line with the LEP’s goals to improve the quality of life for the people who live and work here and provide an inspirational and aspirational place to attract inward investment and tourism.”
Named in 1989 to mark the centenary of Birmingham achieving city status, Centenary Square is home to a number of key buildings, including the Library of Birmingham, the Old Rep Theatre, the International Convention Centre and Symphony Hall.
Plans for the square include an extension of the Midland Metro and improvements to road layouts.
