Midland engineers secure contract for Birmingham NIA refurbishment

Leading Midlands-based civil and structural engineers Rodgers Leask has secured one of its largest ever projects after being appointed for the £20.6 million transformation of Birmingham's National Indoor Arena.

The refurbishment of the NIA, part of the NEC Group, will provide first class facilities to enhance the pre and post show experience for customers, promoters and performers.

Work on the major construction project is expected to start in early 2013 and will take 18 to 24 months to complete.

The plans will allow the venue to take advantage of its unique canal-side location and include a new showcase entrance from Brindleyplace into the arena, with full-height glazed views over the water and the city.

The development and refurbishment will be delivered over four floors – arena floor, concourse and mezzanines one and two. A superior hospitality offering, giving visitors more choice for food, drinks and merchandising will also be provided.

Paul Spencer, director of Rodgers Leask, which recently opened an office in Longbridge, said: "To be appointed civil and structural engineers for the refurbishment of the NIA is a major coup for us and we are excited at the prospect of being involved in such a high-profile project. It puts it comfortably in the top 10 of those that we have been involved in."

He added: "We have also been liaising with agencies including British Waterways and Network Rail. Due to the NIA's location it is quite an engineering challenge but the venue will be able to continue to operate throughout the duration of the project."

The NIA is one of the busiest large-scale indoor sporting and entertainment venues in Europe. It is consistently in use between 210 and 240 days each year, attracting between 750,000 to one million visitors per year, generating £150 million in economic benefit while supporting 2,500 jobs.

Phil Mead, managing director of NEC Group Arenas, said: "We are extremely proud of our exciting plans to turn the NIA into the next generation of arena. The plans will further strengthen the NIA's success in attracting the world's leading indoor sport events, live shows and concerts."