Dramatic images capture Birmingham’s changing skyline
A collection of dramatic images of Birmingham’s skyline have been released to highlight the changing face of the city centre.
The images, by some of the region’s top photographers, were captured at sunrise from the roof of the city’s tallest office building, the Grade II listed Alpha Birmingham.
The project – #AlphaSunrise – is the brainchild of Alpha Tower owner, property firm CEG Property in partnership with Birmingham’s Hidden Spaces.
Photographers involved include: Beth Astington, Fraser McGee, Jon Crampton, Kris Askey, Martin O’Callaghan, Matt Beach, Ross Jukes, Tim Cornbill and Verity Milligan.
The images, which are the first to be released from the roof of the building in three years, charter the city’s continuing economic renaissance and ongoing construction activity, such as the Paradise Birmingham development. The project also included a range of shots taken internally of the construction progress at Alpha.
CEG is investing £16m in the redevelopment of the 28-storey building, including a £1m co-working hub Alpha Works.
The works will deliver 14,000 sq ft of office space which is being targeted at smaller businesses and start-ups. Set to launch in April, the space, located on the tower’s 21st and 22nd floors, will offer a creative and collaborative working environment for the city’s new breed of entrepreneurs. The scheme will include almost 200 desks, alongside a range of collaborative and co-working spaces.
Theresa White, community manager at Alpha Works, said: “Alpha Works will provide unrivalled views of the city when we launch in April so we were keen to share our perspective, a snapshot of Birmingham’s evolving skyline with the region’s top photographers.
“Our mission at Alpha Works is to provide a creative space that fosters growth and encourages collaboration, so working on this exciting project with Hidden Spaces was a great opportunity for us.”
The event partner, Birmingham’s Hidden Spaces – a project that aims to showcase and celebrate the city’s hidden treasures not usually accessible to the public – also launched the images as part of its latest #RooftopTuesdays photography initiative.
Steve Townsend, co-founder of Birmingham’s Hidden Spaces – and one of the photographers taking part in the #AlphaSunrise project, said: “Birmingham’s Hidden Spaces is all about capturing a different viewpoint of Birmingham, one that people don’t normally get to see. We aim to celebrate the city’s rich and diverse architectural heritage, much of which is hidden from view and inaccessible to the public.
“Alpha is one of the city’s most iconic buildings and thanks to CEG, we have been able to capture and share a unique perspective of the city that usually only the tenants of the office space get to see.”
The Rotunda. Verity Milligan
Check out more than 30 great photos of Birmingham, shot from Alpha Birmingham
