Chamberlain Square from Birmingham Central Library in 2010 to Paradise Birmingham in 2020

A look at the changes in Chamberlain Square over a 10 year period. Starting with what it looked liked in 2010 when Birmingham Central Library was still standing. Through the demolition works in 2016 and construction of 1 & 2 Chamberlain Square from 2017 to 2020. Since lockdown I've not been able to get into town. So my last photo was earlier in March 2020.

2010

Birmingham Central Library in Chamberlain Square during February 2010. From the John Madin Design Group. Built 1969-74. Known as the Ziggurat. The Chamberlain Memorial has seen all the changes since it was erected in October 1880 in honour of the Mayor of Birmingham, Joseph Chamberlain. He was also an Member of Parliament. Paradise Forum (behind) would remain open until 2015.

dndimg alt="Birmingham Central Library" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Bham Central Library Ch Sq (Feb 2010).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

2015

Paradise Birmingham had put up hoardings around the former Central Library by February 2015. The Library closed in 2013 before the Library of Birmingham opened in Centenary Square during September 2013. Paradise Forum closed was closed forever by January or February 2015. The shops and restaurants etc inside were closed by the end of 2014. Goodby to McDonald's and Wetherspoon's. This was one of the last times you could see the street art called Todo Es Posible by the artist Lucy McLaughlan, before the library was knocked down.

dndimg alt="Paradise demolition" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Demo Bham CL Ch Sq (Feb 2015).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

2016

Demolition of Birmingham Central Library started in December 2015.

January 2016. The lefthand side of the old library with layers of concrete stripped away.

dndimg alt="Paradise demolition" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Demo Bham CL Ch Sq (Jan 2016).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

February 2016. Reaching the middle to the righthand side of the old library. More layers of concrete had gone.

dndimg alt="Paradise demolition" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Demo Bham CL Ch Sq (Feb 2016) (1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Several weeks later and they continued to gut the library.

dndimg alt="Paradise demolition" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Demo Bham CL Ch Sq (Feb 2016) (2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

March 2016. More chunks of the inner courtyard area being crunched away.

dndimg alt="Paradise demolition" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Demo Bham CL Ch Sq (March 2016).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

May 2016. More and more layers had gone as they would split the library in half. Was better to see from Centenary Square / Centenary Way at the time.

dndimg alt="Paradise demolition" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Demo Bham CL Ch Sq (May 2016).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

If you went a few steps to the right, there was a good view through the split library in half of the new Library of Birmingham.

dndimg alt="Paradise Demolition" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Demo Bham CL Ch Sq (May 2016) (1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

And if you went up the steps of BM & AG in Chamberlain Square, the view was even better.

dndimg alt="Paradise Demolition" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Demo Bham CL Ch Sq (May 2016) (2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

June 2016. One month on, and the concrete curtain kept opening wider, and the view of the Library of Birmingham would get better and better.

dndimg alt="Paradise Demolition" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Demo Bham CL Ch Sq (June 2016).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

August 2016. There was a window in the hoardings at Chamberlain Square, and you could look through it at the time. Only a slither of the old library left on the left, just behind the Chamberlain Memorial. Maybe also a bit to the far right.

dndimg alt="Paradise Lost" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Paradise Lost Ch Sq (Aug 2016).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

October 2016. Still the bits to the far left and right to knock down by this point. So the demolition of the library wasn't quite finished.

dndimg alt="Paradise Birmingham" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Paradise Bham Ch Sq (Oct 2016).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

2017

January 2017. New Years Day 2017 and there was nothing left of the Library. Cranes down before construction began of One Chamberlain Square.

dndimg alt="Paradise rises" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Paradise Bham Ch Sq (Jan 2017).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

You could see the new Library of Birmingham from Chamberlain Square, as well as Baskerville House and The Copthorne Hotel.

dndimg alt="Paradise rises" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Paradise Bham Ch Sq (Jan 2017) (1).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

March 2017. Early signs of construction of One Chamberlain Square to the right by Carillion.

dndimg alt="Paradise rises" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Paradise Bham Ch Sq (March 2017).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

May 2017. One Chamberlain Square starts to rise.

dndimg alt="Paradise rises" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Paradise Bham Ch Sq (May 2017).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

July 2017. Access to Chamberlain Square was blocked off, but you could go around the back of the Council House to get into the Museum & Art Gallery via Eden Place and what was Edmund Street. Chamberlain Square entrance was still open at the time.

dndimg alt="Paradise rises" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Paradise Bham Ch Sq (July 2017).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

September 2017. One Chamberlain Square continues to rise up, but Chamberlain Square was still closed from Victoria Square.

dndimg alt="Paradise rises" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Paradise Bham Ch Sq (Sept 2017).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

November 2017. Chamberlain Square was reopened with the closure of Fletchers Walk, and the opening of Centenary Way to Centenary Square (for the first time in 2 years).

dndimg alt="Paradise rises" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Paradise Bham Ch Sq (Nov 2017).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

December 2017. More cladding had gone up about halfway on One Chamberlain Square.

dndimg alt="Paradise rises" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Paradise Bham Ch Sq (Dec 2017).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

2018

July 2018. Carillion went bust in January 2018. So construction didn't resume until BAM took over. BAM were also responsible for building Two Chamberlain Square, which was underway by the summer of 2018.

dndimg alt="Paradise rises" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Paradise Bham Ch Sq (July 2018).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

2019

March 2019. Two Chamberlain Square had reached the top, and the glass cladding was going up. Made some nice reflections of BM & AG and Big Brum from here.

dndimg alt="Paradise rises" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Paradise Bham Ch Sq (March 2019).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

October 2019. From Victoria Square with the Town Hall, then Two and One Chamberlain Square. Council House to the right. Chamberlain Memorial will all new surroundings.

dndimg alt="Paradise rises" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Paradise Bham Ch Sq (Oct 2019) (1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

A few days later and a walk past Chamberlain Square, with both Two and One Chamberlain Square looking complete.

dndimg alt="Paradise rises" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Paradise Bham Ch Sq (Oct 2019) (2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

2020

February 2020. A nightshot taken after my visit to The BCAG. One Chamberlain Square was now open.

dndimg alt="Paradise rises" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Paradise Bham Ch Sq (Feb 2020).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

March 2020. My last photo before the lockdown. Taken at the beginning of the month. Public realm works were underway.

dndimg alt="Paradise rises" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Paradise Bham Ch Sq (March 2020).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Since the lockdown started, I have not been able to travel into the City Centre. As you can not go on the bus or train. I don't drive a car, or ride a bike, and it would be too far to walk.

So look out for updates from Daniel or Stephen.

 

Photos taken by Elliott Brown.

Follow me on Twitter here ellrbrown. Thanks for all the followers.