Holloway Head Internals Phase 1, Birmingham
The Project
Drywall Contracts has been collaborating with Winvic Construction on the development of Holloway Head, one if Birmingham’s largest PRS (Private Rented Sector) schemes. The site, located just a ten-minute walk from Birmingham City Street station, has been vacant for over 25 years. It’s redevelopment is part of the broader regeneration of Birmingham City Centre under the Big City Plan.
The modern design consisted if four blocks ranging from 10 to 16 stories, adapting to the challenging, steeply sloping topography of a 13m drop across the site. The 485 apartments are divided into 132 one-bedroom, 344 two-bedroom, and 9 three-bedroom apartments. The scheme offers extensive resident amenity space including a media lounge, co-working spaces, formal lounges, dining area, gym, landscaped courtyards, and roof terraces. Additionally, 3,660 sq. ft of commercial space is available at the ground level to activate street presence.
A new Girl Guides headquarters was built on the south site as they vacated their existing HQ building, Trefoil House located on the north end of the site. The new headquarters will include multiple activity rooms, a common rooms, a large main hall and a shop.
This project was very challenging as the design was based on Pre-Grenfell specifications. DCL worked closely with the design team to introduce changes, such as updating smoke shafts, junction interfaces, upgrading firefighting lobbies, removing combustible materials from the façade build up and increasing the performance of corridors and party walls. Due to the nature of Phase One, the slope of the ground, and the requirement to have part of the Phase One occupied during construction to allow Trefoil House to be demolished, we had to produce a logistical plan for our client that included changing the location, orientation, and size of hoists on the project to maintain program and resource levels.
Scope of Works
- Complete Fit-out to the New Girl Guides
- Upgrade to the performance of the slabs on the lower levels
- Drylining and Plastering to Phase 1 (Blocks C and D) 231 Apartments