'Sky needles' complete £26m NIA revamp
The £26 million redevelopment of the National Indoor Arena in Birmingham has changed the city skyline with the installation of three 'sky needles'.
Teams from the NIA and BAM Construction have completed a structural milestone at the building by tightening the final bolt on the rooftop – securing in place the iconic sky needles that will light up the Birmingham skyline each night.
The operation took four hours to complete, with a 48 hour road closure in place, allowing time for the rig and de-rig of the 500 tonne crane working on the King Edwards Road site. The three needles, standing at 16, 26 and 20m (52ft, 85ft and 65ft) on the roof of the NIA – as a result, the tallest now reaches a height of 48m (157 ft) into the air from canal level.
The different heights of the three needles is to symbolise a winners' podium in athletics and reflect the NIA's sporting heritage – it was first opened by gold medal-winning sprinter Linford Christie in October 1991.
Backed by Birmingham Council as part of its 'Big City' plan, the modernisation of the NIA has seen all areas of the venue being upgraded.
The most dramatic element is a new glass facade overlooking Brindleyplace, adding 5,926 sq metres ~(63,800 sq ft) of pre and post show space into the 13,437 sq m (144,000 sq ft) of redevelopment.
The transformation of the NIA – part of the NEC Group's arenas portfolio along with the LG Arena – is intended to provide an improved experience for promoters, artists and performers, visitors and the city, hosting hundreds of high profile, international events.
NEC chief executive Paul Thandi said: "This is a proud moment for the NIA team and Birmingham. This redevelopment is vital for the regional economy in ensuring we compete effectively in a national and global marketplace. By continuing to attract national and international events to Birmingham, we can give the one million plus visitors we draw each year the best possible relevant customer experience."
BAM spokesman, John Mensforth added: "The successful placing of the Sky Needles is another important milestone in the construction process and coincides nicely with the reopening of the Arena following the summer closure for refurbishment works.
"The project has been a challenge for BAM and our supply chain but the site team have continued to deliver areas on schedule with completion on track for the end of 2014. "
