Midland entertainments venue to get £25million makeover
18.03.08
Birmingham’s NEC Arena – the biggest entertainment and leisure complex in the West Midlands - has been given the go-ahead by Birmingham City Council to receive a £25million makeover.
Renovation to the 28-year old building will include a landmark tower, a new entrance, new cafés, bars and restaurants, a dedicated VIP entrance and improved seating and lighting, all part of a long-term master-plan for the NEC site as a whole.
Around 1 million visitors attend functions at the NEC each year. In order to continue to make the venue more attractive to promoters, artistes and the public, modernization of the site is required.
The project is expected to take around 18 months to complete and is due to open to the public in Autumn 2009. Details of the renovation have been kept firmly under wraps and will be announced later on in the year.
Hulley & Kirkwood Consulting Engineers will undertake all Mechanical and Electrical design works for the development. No stranger to the NEC and situated 5 minutes from the venue, Hulley’s Birmingham Team previously provided M&E design provision for the two new halls at the NEC.
Hulleys have also provided M&E design input for numerous projects in the leisure, arena and exhibition sectors including the Ricoh Stadium in Coventry, C-Bay Recording and Rehearsal Hall in Cardiff, Harrogate International Centre and the Scottish Exhibition & Conference Centre in Glasgow.
Andy Bradley, Director at Hulleys Birmingham Office comments;
“This is an exciting project for Hulleys and we are proud of our on-going association with the NEC which has now existed since 1985”
“A large emphasis will be placed on energy efficiency and environmental implications, as well as keeping the venue fully operational to the public throughout the whole process.”
Hulleys Managing Director, Simmy Telfer adds;
“Birmingham is becoming one of the most exciting cities in the UK and the NEC is a fundamental part of the West Midlands economy. Hulleys are delighted to contribute and provide our experience in order to ensure that this venue continues as a serious rival to its European counterparts.”
