Alexander Stadium 

Birmingham’s Sports Revival: Innovative Design and Major Upgrades Elevate Alexander Stadium for Future Events.

Birmingham City Council commissioned SPACE&PLACE (S&P) and Vision TDM project management to explore redevelopment opportunities for Alexander Stadium. Our objective was to maximize the stadium’s potential for Birmingham residents and establish it as a premier venue for athletics and other events. We conducted a feasibility study and, with Urban Design, began the design and construction of the stadium’s first phase.

Alexander Stadium, a leading UK athletics venue, has hosted the AAA trials for the Beijing Olympics and served as a training base for US and Jamaican teams before the 2012 Olympics. To elevate its status, S&P and the Sports Consultancy crafted a masterplan to enhance spectator and athlete facilities, expand activity options, and boost sustainability.

Aligned with Birmingham City Council’s regeneration plan, our design vision aimed to create an iconic structure for public sporting and entertainment events. The stadium was designed to operate independently but fit into a larger masterplan. We collaborated with BCC Urban Design on initial designs, focusing on public facilities, crowd movement, and regulatory compliance.

Phase one of the redevelopment introduced a new 5,000-seat back straight stand, completed in time for the 2011 IAAF Diamond League meeting. This two-tier stand features a fabric façade and an open view of the track, capturing the summer athletics atmosphere. The development also included two floors of office space and a public gym below the main concourse. Upgrades featured a new western stand, tiered seating, a six-lane warm-up track, and an enhanced IAAF Category 1 track.

Results

The Alexander Stadium redevelopment successfully transformed the venue into a top athletics and events hub for Birmingham. Extensive stakeholder consultation ensured alignment with Birmingham City Council’s regeneration goals and commitment to local health and wellbeing. Completing phase one in time for the 2011 IAAF Diamond League meeting demonstrated effective project management. This success set the stage for future upgrades and supported preparations for the 2022 Commonwealth Games.

March 2017