View source for V Building

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2021}}
{{Infobox building
|name               = V Building
|image              = V Building.jpg
|image_size         = 200px
|caption            = 
|location           = [[Broad Street, Birmingham]], [[England]]
|coordinates        = {{coord|52|28|40.91|N|1|54|20.91|W|display=inline,title}}
|status             = On Hold
|antenna_spire      = {{convert|152|m|ft|0}}
|roof               = {{convert|147|m|ft|0}}
|floor_count        = 51
|start_date         = 2006
|completion_date    = Unknown 
|floor_area         = 
|architect          = [[Eric Kuhne]]
|developer          = [[Dandara]]
|main_contractor    = 
}}
The '''V Building''' (formerly known as '''Arena Central Tower''') was a proposed 51-storey [[residential]] [[skyscraper]] approved for construction on [[Broad Street, Birmingham|Broad Street]] on the [[Westside, Birmingham|Westside]] of the city centre of [[Birmingham]], England. The tower was part of the larger Arena Central development scheme on the former [[Associated TeleVision|ATV]] / [[ITV Central|Central Television]] Studios, closed in 1997. The entire development site covered an area of {{convert|7.6|acre|m2}}. On completion the development was set to include offices, shops, restaurants, cafes, leisure/entertainment, fitness centre and hotel. It was to have been built on the site of a multi-level underground car park next to [[Alpha Tower]], one of the tallest buildings in Birmingham. The total cost of the entire scheme was expected to be £400 million and of the tower, £150 million.

The estimated completion date was initially set for 2009, but due to setbacks was extended to 2013. In 2009, the developers received a 5-year extension to planning permission; the council turned down a 10-year extension in the hope that work would begin before 2015.<ref>[http://www.birminghampost.net/news/west-midlands-news/2009/11/06/birmingham-won-t-wait-ten-years-for-start-on-arena-central-v-building-65233-25103305/] ''[[Birmingham Post]]'' 6 November 2009 (Retrieved 18 March 2011)</ref>

The proposed scheme was cancelled during 2014 and alternative plans, which do not include a tall tower, were approved by [[Birmingham City Council]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/arena-central-site-plans-50-storey-8778981 |title=Arena Central site: Plans for 50-storey skyscraper in Birmingham are ditched |newspaper=Birmingham Mail |date=5 March 2015 |last=Elkes |first=Neil |access-date=5 April 2016}}</ref>

==Original proposal==
The V Building was not part of the original plan for Arena Central which was submitted in 1998 by [[Miller Group (construction company)|Miller Group]]. No buildings in the design were taller than 20 storeys. However, the design was soon changed and a tower was incorporated later in the year. The design, by [[HOK Architects]], was for a 50-storey tower which had a total height of 245 metres to the top of the [[spire]] and a roof height of 187 metres. At the time, that would have made the tower the tallest building in England, and one of the tallest in Europe. The building plan was referred to [[Deputy Prime Minister]], [[John Prescott]], in 2000 who disapproved of the tower and forced it to be scaled down to 187 metres. The amendments to the design were made and the entire scheme later received outline planning consent.

The [[September 11 attacks|9/11 attacks]] in 2001 resulted in a number of setbacks for the project and it was significantly delayed. The building was considered a potential terrorist target if constructed and, in consequence, the [[Hampton Trust]] pulled out of the project as part owners. No news about the development was released for two years.

In 2003, [[Andy Ruhan]] of Bridgewaters Capital was found as a partner and papers were signed in 2004.<ref>[http://www.skyscrapernews.com/news.php?ref=30 "Hampton Sell Arena Central"], ''Skyscrapernews.com'', 28 February 2003 (Retrieved 18 March 2007)</ref> In December 2004, planning permission, which would have run out for the tower in February 2005, was extended to December 2010.

==Redesign and a new proposal==
===Early history===
Due to the problems the project encountered, a new masterplan was produced and [[Multiplex (company)|Multiplex]] was awarded the contract for construction of the tower.<ref>[http://www.skyscrapernews.com/news.php?ref=191 "Mulitplex To Get Arena Central Contract"], ''Skyscrapernews.com'', 22 July 2004 (Retrieved 18 March 2007)<br>- {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20040815233601/http://www.emporis.com/en/bu/nc/ne/?id=101159 "Arena Central Tower back on track"]}}, ''Emporis.com'', 20 July 2004 (Retrieved 18 March 2007)</ref> The masterplan unveiled in 2006, however, did not specifically outline the details of individual buildings. A model of the tower was present, though the detail and the roof feature were not on the images released. The shape of the tower in the models confirmed that the design by HOK Architects was not to be used. It was described as going to appear as if it "is squeezed in the middle creating two bulges".

A news article in the ''Estate Gazette'' on 17 June 2006 stated that the height of the tower would be 175 metres and the [[Civil Aviation Authority (United Kingdom)|Civil Aviation Authority]] agreed that it would not have any problems with the tower if it was 175 metres tall; however, they would have to comment on the planning application if any taller. Other news articles said the tower would be of 47 storeys though whether this is in reference to the old design or the new design is unclear.

In September 2006, it was revealed that construction would be delayed yet again.<ref>[http://icbirmingham.icnetwork.co.uk/birminghampost/business/tm_method=full%26objectid=17743686%26siteid=50002-name_page.html "Miller group figures up again"], ''Birmingham Post'', 14 September 2006 (Retrieved 18 March 2007)</ref> It was also revealed that the tower would be the first constructed part of the development due to the lack of demolition needed on the site.

On 12 February 2007, Arena Central Developments was granted a 250-year lease on the land by Birmingham City Council.<ref>[http://icbirmingham.icnetwork.co.uk/birminghampost/news/tm_method=full%26objectid=18615452%26siteid=50002-name_page.html "City's tallest building granted lease"], ''Birmingham Post'', 13 February 2007 (Retrieved 18 March 2007)</ref>

===Team===
[[Eric Kuhne]] of Eric R Kuhne & Associates and Civic Arts Architects was appointed by Dandara Ltd to design the form, the façades, the public realm, the lobbies and commercial tenancies of the tower. The apartments and the technical delivery have been designed by [[Scott Brownrigg Architects]], with whom Eric Kuhne and Civic Arts Architects collaborated.

===The design is revealed===
The first indication of the design of the tower was revealed on the Pipers Models website. The website presented images of a model of the building that had been produced for the developers to be unveiled at the upcoming [[MIPIM]] show in [[Cannes]], [[France]]. The design shown was different from what was quoted as having been "squeezed in the middle creating two bulges". Instead the design featured a tower of a 'V' shape rising from the base.

The tower was unveiled at the MIPIM show in Cannes in March 2007. Its name had been changed from Arena Central Tower/ Arena Square Tower to V Building highlighting the 'V' shape on the Suffolk Street Queensway elevation.<ref>[http://icbirmingham.icnetwork.co.uk/mail/news/tm_headline=a-v-exciting-new-look-for-brum&method=full&objectid=18750626&siteid=50002-name_page.html "A v-exciting new look for Brum"], ''Birmingham Mail'', 14 March 2007 (Retrieved 18 March 2007)<br>- [http://www.building.co.uk/story.asp?sectioncode=736&storycode=3083190&c=3&encCode=00000000012b6a3f "Kuhne's Arena Central tower unveiled at MIPIM"], ''Building'', 15 March 2007 (Retrieved 18 March 2007)</ref> It was initially quoted as having 50 storeys and being 150 metres tall.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/west_midlands/6450353.stm "City's tallest skyscraper on show"], ''BBC News'', 14 March 2007 (Retrieved 18 March 2007)</ref>

The detailed planning application for the tower was submitted to the [[Birmingham City Council]] Planning Department on 13 June 2007 by agents Aims Ltd.<ref>{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20070929141206/http://www.emporis.com/en/bu/nc/ne/?id=101822 "The V Building goes into planning"]}}, ''Emporis.com'', 20 June 2007 (Retrieved 13 July 2007)</ref> The planning application for the tower also contained changes to the masterplan for the site. The proposal was described as:
<blockquote>Erection of new tower to include flats, restaurant & bar together with landscaping, car parking & means of access. Updated masterplan for the Arena Central site, bound by Broad Street, Suffolk Street Queensway, Holliday<!--Correct spelling--> Street & Bridge Street, in accordance with condition 3 attached to application No. C/04238/97/OUT</blockquote>

The tower was approved by Birmingham City Council Planning Department on 4 October 2007. The ''[[Birmingham Post]]'' reported that it took two minutes for the councillors to make the decision. Construction of the tower was expected to begin in early 2008 for completion in 2013.<ref>[http://icbirmingham.icnetwork.co.uk/birminghampost/news/tm_headline=v-building-gets-the-go-ahead%26method=full%26objectid=19895670%26siteid=50002-name_page.html "V Building gets the go-ahead"], ''[[Birmingham Post]]'', 4 October 2007 (Retrieved 5 October 2007)</ref>

===Design===
The design of the tower had changed slightly from what was revealed at the MIPIM show in Cannes. The exterior of the building was a mixture of cladding with bars running across the windows.<ref>[http://www.skyscrapernews.com/picturedisplay.php?ref=5155&idi=The+V+Building&self=nse&selfidi=5155TheVBuilding_pic2.jpg&no=2 "V Tower Render"], ''Skyscrapernews''</ref> However, this was changed when the new renders for the tower were revealed after the submission of the planning application. The new renders showed the exterior to be brighter in colour.<ref>[http://www.building.co.uk/story_attachment.asp?storycode=3089830&seq=1&type=P&c=1 "V Building render"], ''Building''</ref>

The planning application explained that the reasoning behind the height decrease from 175 metres to 147 metres was due to the refusal from the adjacent hotel building, Crowne Plaza, to move out of its building and be given hotel space in the new tower, which would have increased the height to 175 metres. The owners of Crowne Plaza, [[Holiday Inn]], had submitted a planning application before the application for V Building to refurbish the hotel.

At street level, near the entrance, there was to have been a plaza area which will consist of vertical concrete slabs with inscriptions written into them. The first two floors will be of double height, containing a restaurant and lounge for residents. The second floor will be cantilevered over the entrance. Beneath these would have been a two-storey underground car park. The footprint was decreased from that of the tower approved in the 2000 masterplan. This was to complement the residential use of the building, which had been proposed as mixed-use in the 2000 masterplan.

Whilst the roof height was planned to be 147 metres, the façade overrun increased the overall height to 152 metres. The roof line has a serrated edge. On the 50th floor there was to have been a sky bar with a public viewing platform, extended to three storeys, above which would have been a plant room. There was to be a total of 706 apartment units in the tower, 60 of which were to have been serviced suites. Facilities for the residents included a lounge on the ground floor and a library. Residents were to have had their own entrance to the building. This would provide access to the residents' reading room. A hotel-style lobby of {{convert|3000|sqft|m2|abbr=on}} would have provided public access to the three restaurants and the top floor sky bar.

==See also==
*[[Big City Plan]]
*[[List of tallest buildings and structures in Birmingham]]

==Notes==
{{reflist}}

==References==
{{Refbegin}}
* ''Planning application number C/03635/07/RES'' (submitted 13 June 2007)
* [http://www.skyscrapernews.com/buildings.php?id=5155 Skyscrapernews.com's entry on the current tower]
* [http://www.skyscrapernews.com/buildings.php?id=117 Skyscrapernews.com's entry on the old tower]
* {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20121013205100/http://www.emporis.com/en/bu/nc/ne/?id=101702 "Birmingham finally set for new heights with The V Building"]}} - Emporis.com (submitted 16 March 2007)
* {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20070929141206/http://www.emporis.com/en/bu/nc/ne/?id=101822 "The V Building goes into planning"]}} - Emporis.com (submitted 20 June 2007)
{{Refend}}

==External links==
* [http://www.thevbuilding.com/ The V Building website]
* [http://www.arena-central.com/ Official website of Arena Central]
* [http://www.dandara.com/ Dandara website]
* [http://www.civicarts.com/ Civicarts website]
* [http://www.miller.co.uk/mediacentre/projects_details.asp?ID=422 Miller Group project page]
* [http://www.birmingham.gov.uk/GenerateContent?CONTENT_ITEM_ID=3180&CONTENT_ITEM_TYPE=0&MENU_ID=1338 Birmingham.gov.uk]
* {{usurped|1=[https://archive.today/20130409045254/http://www.emporis.com/en/wm/bu/?id=295037 Emporis.com]}} - Building ID - 295037

{{BirminghamBuildings}}
{{UKSkyscrapers|Proposed}}

[[Category:Buildings and structures in Birmingham, West Midlands]]
[[Category:Proposed skyscrapers in England]]
[[Category:Residential skyscrapers in England]]
[[Category:Skyscrapers in Birmingham, West Midlands]]