The new-look University station in Birmingham has been named the region’s best civil engineering project.
The station’s renovation has won three prestigious awards at the 2024 ICE West Midlands Awards, celebrating engineering excellence.
A major renovation of the University station in Edgbaston, Birmingham, has been crowned the region’s top civil engineering project.
The project, recognised at the 2024 ICE West Midlands Awards, won three accolades: top large project (over £10 million), best team achievement, and overall project of the year.
Originally built in 1978, University station was designed to handle approximately 500,000 passengers annually.
However, by 2019, the station was managing four million passengers per year, necessitating a significant upgrade to address capacity issues.
Transport chiefs undertook the redevelopment to reduce bottlenecks and improve overall efficiency.
The revamped station features two additional buildings and expanded public realms.
Wider platforms and new canopies have been introduced to enhance the passenger experience.
A new bridge traversing the canal provides an extra exit, easing passenger movements.
The project faced numerous challenges, including navigating interfaces with a canal and a Roman fort.
Remarkably, the station remained operational throughout the construction period, even playing a vital role during the 2022 Commonwealth Games.
Judges at the awards praised the project’s meticulous planning and collaboration, involving 13 different organisations.
Key contributors included Transport for West Midlands, Network Rail, Volker Fitzpatrick, and Associated Architects.
Landowners such as the University of Birmingham and University Hospitals Birmingham also played crucial roles in the project’s success.
The ICE West Midlands Awards also celebrated individuals and projects across various categories.
Chloe-Bess Lester was named young achiever of the year for her commitment to promoting equality, diversity, and inclusion within the engineering community.
Tony Gee & Partners and Midland Metro Alliance won the heritage award for their bridge replacement project, maintaining the historical design while meeting modern needs.
The Technician Award was bestowed upon Luca Grail-Langston from Arup.
David Brown received the Bob Dunn Award for Outstanding Achievement.
The Schoolhouse Bridge Restoration project in North Shropshire won the Small Project Award for projects under £2 million, while the M42-M6 Link East Viaduct received the Medium Project Award for projects between £2 million and £10 million.
The University of Birmingham, along with its partners, was honoured for research into bored piles.
Arup, Jackson Civil Engineering, and Birmingham City Council won the Sustainability Award for the First Avenue flood alleviation scheme in Selly Park.
These awards highlight the diverse range of projects and the dedication to innovation and sustainability within the region.
The University station revamp stands as a testament to the collaborative effort and engineering prowess that brought the project to fruition.
This recognition underscores the importance of innovative solutions and meticulous planning in modern civil engineering projects.