Broad Street - an update, 2019
The following photographs were taken on a visit by
David and Jeanette Parkes to the old BMB Head
Offices in December 2019.
They show the state of the refurbishment of the building at that date, the work
being carried out by Galliford
Try, who kindly arranged access and provided a
guided tour. The new owners of the building, the University of Birmingham, plan to
take
over the completed site in April 2021.
At the date of the photographs, Galliford Try had demolished the rear of the building
and a temporary protection put in place; completed an internal strip out of the building, removing the extra offices etc installed
in 1984; the existing lift had been stripped out, saving the original finishes for re-use in the replacement lift; new Basement
Level 2 and Basement Level 1 concrete slabs had been built; a new steel frame for the rear extension had started; numerous
surveys had been completed to prove the condition of existing finishes throughout the building and to scope repairs; a full and
extensive asbestos removal throughout the building had been completed; and a strip out in full of the Boardroom had taken place with
the walnut panelling being stored securely off-site ready to be refitted.
The southwest corner of the building showing the extension
to the south being constructed to create a new entrance
The old House Purchase Department
(left) First Floor Corridor - north side
(above) the old Accounts Department
(left) Banking Hall ceiling viewed from the Italianate balcony
(above) the old Assembly Hall, still in the shortened state created in 1984
(above) Galliford Try's Senior Site Manager (Richard Brice) and his team
point out
the planned changes in the Assembly Hall
(right) a corner of the old Assembly Hall, where a room was created when the Hall was shortened in 1984 - the
City's Coat of Arms, covered at that time, have now been uncovered
View from the Boardroom - the caretaker's flat in the background in the course of demolition.
The intervening area (originally
the caretaker's yard) is to be converted into a roof garden
(above) David and Jeanette Parkes at the door of the Safe Deposit - the
Safe Deposit interior (right) still has the blocks of safes added after
the Second World War, although there are plans to remove some of them
The University of Birmingham have stated that:
The building will be adapted to accommodate a year-round public programme, a new
incubator for student and graduate start-up businesses, and a range of collaborative working spaces for research, policy development,
and a new Leadership Institute. The Bank’s prime heritage spaces, including the old banking hall and vaults, will be re-opened to
the public with exhibitions, events, workshops, performances and a welcoming café.
The west side of the building - where construction workers now enter through
what was a window in the House Purchase Department
Ground
Floor Corridor, Banking Hall on the left