Orion Building

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Orion Building

The main tower of the Orion Building with Sirius under construction to the right.
Building
Type Residential and retail
Location Birmingham, England
Coordinates 52°28′38.95″N 1°54′8.47″W / 52.4774861, -1.9023528Coordinates: 52°28′38.95″N 1°54′8.47″W / 52.4774861, -1.9023528
Construction
Started 2004
Completed 2006
Height 90 metres (295 ft)
Floor Count 28
Design Team
Architect BBLB Architects
Other designers John Rocha

The Orion Building is a 90-metre (295 ft) tall high rise residential building on Navigation Street, Birmingham, England. Construction of the tower began in 2004 with demolition of the previous building on the site, and was completed in 2007. As part of the development, the original façades of some of the previous buildings have been retained and incorporated into the lowrise sections of the complex. The complex consists of a 28 storey tower with five basement floors. It consists of the city's first penthouse which is currently for sale at £1.6 million. The penthouse is located at the top of the tower.

The 200 apartments within the tower have been designed by John Rocha, the fashion designer, who claims it as a "fashion first".

The Orion Building was granted planning permission in 2001 however soon encountered problems. The original contractor, Carillon, fell out with Crosby Homes and construction on the site stopped. However, it restarted with Taylor Woodrow. Crosby Homes submitted a reserved matters planning application to increase the number of floors in the tower. The building was constructed in two phases with Phase 1 being the main tower. Phase 2 was attached to the building however is a lot longer and contains more apartments.

The tower is illuminated at night by strips of LEDs. The lights slowly change colour by blending into each other and are situated on one corner of the main tower and along the rim of the top.

The top part of the tower is a completely glass. Below this, the tower consists of strips of glass set within pre-cast concrete panels. The pre-cast concrete panels were painted in varying tones of beige after the construction. The reason for this was unknown, however in December 2006 these patches were painted over in a single colour.

Phase 4 of the scheme is currently under construction. The structure has topped out and the two tower cranes that were aiding the construction have be removed. The phase is to be named Sirius and will consist of the retention of a Victorian façade.

The architecture of the Orion Building has been attacked by critics. The Times newspaper named it as one of the ugliest new buildings in Britain in August 2007.[1]

The main tower of the Orion Building during the removal of scaffolding.

The Orion Building from ground level.

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ The Times Online: Britain's ugliest buildings, August 7, 2007


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