Rotunda (Birmingham)

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The Rotunda before 2006 - 2007 refurbishment

The Rotunda is an iconic, cylindrical tower block in Birmingham, England.

A part of the James A. Roberts design for the Bull Ring included a 12 storey circular office block. This was revised to 25 storeys, abandoning plans for a rooftop restaurant and a cinema. The design was approved and construction began on the 81 metre (265 foot) building in 1961.

Completed in 1964 as an office block at a cost of £1 million during the post-war rebuilding of the Bull Ring, it was initially much derided and considered a "dead building". However, suggestions in the 1980s that it should be demolished when the Bull Ring was again redeveloped met with equal, if not greater, hostility from the local populace.

In 1974, a pub on the ground floor of the building was the site of one of the Birmingham pub bombings.

Since construction and prior to the construction of the new Bullring, advertisements were displayed on the top of the building. In the 1960s and 1970s these advertisements were for the property company MEPC, while in the 1980s and 1990s the Rotunda displayed signs for Coca Cola. During construction of the new Bullring, advertisements on the top of the building advertised the new development. The building also previously had a digital clock showing the time from the top floors.

A bank strongroom in the basement helps to support the weight of the building.

As of 2004, the Rotunda, a Grade II listed building, is being refurbished and partially converted for residential use by developer Urban Splash and Glenn Howells Architects. The redevelopment will create 234 luxury apartments and two hi-tech LED illuminations at the top of the building. One of these LED boards has been installed and is in operation.

On 2006-05-18, strong winds dislodged a pane of glass causing it to fall to the ground resulting in the surrounding area to be closed to the public [1].

The Rotunda on the 20th April 2006 during refurbishment.

16th June 2006 with most of the walls removed, to be replaced with glazing.

In May 2004, its original architect Jim Roberts commented:

“

The top floor has no central column to allow it to rotate. The weight is instead suspended off the column which runs through the building core.

The idea for the revolving restaurant was only scrapped at the last minute after the Rotunda's shell was built. I can't reveal anything about the new design, but it has my full backing.

What they are looking at doing with the building is excellent and will make it more eye-catching and I'm extremely delighted to have been involved in the project.

The new developers seem more receptive to ideas than when I designed it.

It would have been a very exciting development, but because it was very developer-led many features were cut as they wouldn't generate extra revenue from firms taking office space.

I can't wait to come and see it after the refurbishment.

”

He also explained that the building had originally been intended to look like a candle, with a flame-like beacon on top, changing colour to reflect the weather.