The £24 million (USD 34.5 million) development was opened in March 2012 and was the first of a new UK chain. The hotel extends to 8 storeys above ground with one level semi-basement.
This was the first development to get underway in the city’s Eastside District and is in close proximity to the existing business and retail districts and to the proposed site for the HS2 rail terminal.
The centre piece at Hotel La Tour Birmingham is an ultra-high strength concrete helical staircase achieved by a special silica-fume mix to achieve slender and elegant sections. We specified this Danish- manufactured staircase in response to the client’s desire for a stand-out feature. It is believed to be the first of its kind in a commercial building in the UK.
The structural engineering solutions we provided played a vital role in delivering this successful landmark building. There were extremely tight design and construction programs, with just 16 months on site, so an optimized concrete frame solution utilizing in situ, post-tensioned and off-site precast concrete was developed.
The site itself was a key driver, requiring optimum use of a small, triangular sloping shape, surrounded by busy traffic. Solidity and good acoustics were also paramount. Sustainability was important to the client and the good thermal mass, combined with a gas-heated VRF air-conditioning system, have kept running costs down. The clever use of structural form earned us the Institution of Structural Engineers (IStructE) Midland counties award for the 'Leisure and Sport' category in 2013.
The success of the project can be seen in this luxury hotel which has become highly rated and a leading hotel and restaurant in Birmingham.
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