In pictures: Make unveils The Exchange

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Source: Tom Bird

Source: Tom Bird

Source: Tom Bird

Source: Tom Bird

Source: Tom Bird

Source: Tom Bird

Source: Tom Bird

Source: Tom Bird

Source: Tom Bird

Source: Tom Bird

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Make Architects has remodelled Birmingham’s Municipal Bank, a prominent 1930s neo-classical building, into a 21st century university facility.

Known as The Exchange, the project provides an important city centre presence for the University of Birmingham.

Sitting prominently in the city’s Centenary Square, the Grade II-listed former bank was originally designed by T. Cecil Howitt. Instrumental to the approach to spatial planning was an early assessment of the historic significance of each room conducted by Donald Insall Associates.

The 320m² banking hall now functions as a café and common room that’s open to the public, with natural light provided by the new coffered rooflights. The space is already widely in use for informal meetings or a quiet coffee.

The bronze-coloured metal portico spanning three stories at the back creates a new public facade for the building that is both of its time and in keeping with the scale of the original architecture.

The southern elevation of the existing building was never meant to be seen, so was composed of simple brick with small utilitarian strip windows providing little light into the back of house areas. As this is now an entrance, opening onto the Bank Court public square, there was an opportunity to add a new Portland stone facade.

In contrast, the original northern elevation is intentionally imposing, with limited windows, to convey a sense of security and trust and a place where people would feel safe to store their valuables.

The portico southern entrance is also designed on a classical grid, although large glazed panels and slender columns have been added to offer a more welcoming vestibule and increase views out.

The original vaults containing the security deposit boxes lie directly below the central banking hall and it was the intention from the outset to make this into a public gallery.

However, the room was never designed to accommodate more than a hand-full of people and a sophisticated ventilation strategy had to be designed and incorporated into the delicate metal detailing.

Around the perimeter of the central Banking Hall lies a series of colonnaded corridors behind stone arches. Originally, this was separated with a series of secure bronze gates and many of the original bronze friezes have survived.

Rather than fill in these arched entrances with new gates and doors, the intention was to allow free movement into and out of the conference and meeting rooms. This involved working through a fire strategy which utilised the four corner stairs and lobbies, while retaining and refurbishing as much of the original bronze detailing as possible.

Conservation architect Matthew Vaughan from Donald Insall Associates said: “The Exchange is an exemplar of reusing historic building stock - something that both Make Architects and Donald Insall Associates have explored jointly on projects over the years. The design team worked with great care to conserve the rich materials and detailing of the historic fabric, with a condition survey by Donald Insall as the basis for repairs, while introducing highly efficient M&E, and fabric improvements.”

Make’s redesign of The Exchange is part of a broader sweep of local regeneration which includes a metro tram link to New Street and Snow Hill stations.