new pedestrian bridge lifted into place

17 September 2009

On 15 September a new covered pedestrian bridge for mac was lifted into place over the river Rea, a further step towards creating a cultural centre that is physically accessible to everyone.

Work on the mac and sampad Building Project began in spring 2008.  The newly refurbished and much improved arts centre will re-open in 2010.  Jointly funded by Arts Council England, Birmingham City Council and a mac and sampad fundraising campaign, the £14.8m development will dramatically improve physical access from the new entrance bridge to the lifts, as well as providing new and refurbished exhibition and performance spaces, better facilities and bigger and brighter cafe and bar areas.

The bridge itself has access at the heart of its design and weighs in at 56 tonnes, measuring 18.5m long.  In order to deliver on its accessibility requirements the bridge is based on a Victorian design developed in the 19th Century by Belgian engineer Arthur Vierendeel.  The bridge has been engineered by international multi-disciplinary engineering consultancy Buro Happold and is being lifted into place by on-site contractors Thomas Vale.

Dorothy Wilson, Chief Executive at mac, said: “The new pedestrian bridge is a physical manifestation of one of our key reasons for developing the building project – the desire to provide ease of access for all our audiences and participants. The new bridge enables us to make mac physically accessible to everyone.”

Jon Davies, Contracts Manager from Thomas Vale Construction commented: “We are nearing completion of this challenging, yet exciting project and the installation of the new bridge is a key milestone for us. The new mac will undoubtedly provide Birmingham and the Midlands with a first class facility of which we can all be very proud”

Hazel Dalton, Buro Happold senior engineer said, “Knitting a modern steel frame into 1960’s concrete structures has proved a challenge, but revitalising this much-loved arts centre means that it can continue to be enjoyed by future generations.”