All aboard: HS2 Ltd announce design partners for brand new stations

HS2 Ltd has revealed which architects and engineers will transform London Euston and build new stations at Birmingham, Solihull and Old Oak Common.

Official Project Partner : HS2 Ltd

The contract appointments will help refine and develop detailed plans for the four HS2 stations in anticipation of their 2026 opening.

The new hires are as follows:

1. Birmingham Curzon Street – WSP UK Limited and Grimshaw Architects LLP
2. Birmingham Interchange – Ove Arup & Partners International Limited, Arup Associates and Wilkinson Eyre Architects Limited
3. Old Oak Common – WSP UK Limited and Wilkinson Eyre Architects Limited
4. London Euston – Ove Arup & Partners International Limited and Grimshaw Architects LLP

Collectively, these are the minds behind Gateshead Millennium Bridge, The Eden Project in Cornwall, Biljmer Arena station in the Netherlands, and the new concourse at London’s King’s Cross station, to name but a few tent-pole projects.

London and Birmingham are already anticipating the arrival of HS2 which is due to unlock opportunities for 30,000 new homes and 130,000 jobs as part of wider development around the four stations.

“HS2 is a modern railway fit for Britain’s future, improving vital links between some of our country’s biggest cities, driving forward growth and significantly improving services for passengers with thousands more seats on faster trains,” said HS2 Minister Nusrat Ghani.

“Appointing these leading creative firms ensures that passengers on our world-class railway will experience modern and accessible stations. I am confident that these firms will deliver these projects at value for money, with designs that are both innovative and in keeping with their surroundings.”

Mark Thurston, Chief Executive of HS2 Ltd, added:”Our new stations in London and Birmingham will be at the heart of the first phase of the project, increasing capacity, improving journeys and helping to unlock opportunities for tens of thousands of new jobs and homes around what will be four new landmark buildings.

“That’s why I’m delighted to welcome these talented designers to the team, and we look forward to working with them to create station designs which showcase world-class architecture, ease of use and value for money that our passengers and communities expect and deserve.”

Meanwhile, HS2 Ltd has also confirmed that the following bidders have been invited to tender for the London station construction contracts:

London Euston

1. Costain Limited/Skanska Construction UK Limited
2. Mace Limited/Dragados S.A.
3. Bechtel Limited
4. BAM Nuttall Limited/Ferrovial Agroman (UK) Limited
5. Canary Wharf Contractors Limited/MTR Corporation (UK) Limited/Laing O’Rourke Construction Limited

Old Oak Common

1. Balfour Beatty Group Ltd/VINCI Construction UK Ltd/VINCI Construction Grands Projets SAS/SYSTRA Ltd
2. Mace Limited/Dragados S.A.
3. Bechtel Limited
4. BAM Nuttall Limited/Ferrovial Agroman (UK) Limited

The construction partner contracts will be awarded this autumn.

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