Building Brum

In the latest Building Brum episode we where joined by HS2 Lead Architect Hala Lloyd. Hala’s an expert leading multi-disciplinary teams working on major ,complex transportation infrastructure projects such as the redevelopment of Birmingham New Street Station , Grand Central and Crossrail Farringdon Station. She took on her current role, in June 2017, as Lead Architect ( and HS2 Design Vision guardian) for the HS2 Phase 1 Midlands Stations at Curzon and Interchange . She is also one of the first cohort of HS2 Design Champions who graduated in Sept 2019 from this HS2 pilot initiative.

We explore the key themes underpinning the much of the vision and legacy of HS2, from Sustainability and the aim for net zero. Discussing the comparison between the 2010 Gateway Project at New Street Station and the redevelopment of Curzon Street Station. Looking at how the role of the public influences the designs and legacy for these major and mega projects.

Building Brum Podcasts are kindly sponsored by ScanTech Digital, Solus and Sunbelt Rentals.

Nick Gibb, Deputy Managing Director of Willmott Dixon in the Midlands spoke with us about their successes over the past decade and how it has led to business growth in the region and a reported annual turnover of over £200 million.

We also take a look at the ambitious targets the contractor has set out in their recently launched “Now or Never” sustainability strategy. Focusing on the net zero milestones they have set out for 2030-2040 and discussing how they can be achieved with the digital advances taking place across the business and the recent launch of their integrated built environment platform – Collida.

Find out more about Building Brum Construction Partners Willmott Dixon: 

Building Brum podcasts are sponsored and supported by ScanTech Digital & Solus 

Glenn Howells Architects Director Shauna Bradley discusses Port Loop and how offsite manufacturing and modern methods of construction have influenced and shaped the design and delivery of this project. 

We take a step back and examine the  Port Loop journey that started almost 10 years ago and consider how the impact this scheme has had on the construction and housing industry and how it has changed the sector's relationship with offsite manufacturing and modern methods of construction.

Simon Delahunty-Forrest, Acting Assistant Director of Planning and Development for Birmingham City Council discussed the vision for Birmingham for the next 20 years. 

We look back at the Big City Plan, explore the changes and differences in direction between the 2010 Masterplan and 2021 Future City Plan. We also explore what the Future City Plan means for the region and its residents with the shift in gear signaling to the world that Birmingham is on the front foot with its plans for growth, regeneration and net-zero. The city is undergoing huge changes with the rise of tall buildings, HS2 and the Commonwealth Games. Let’s take a look behind the Future City Plan and find out more from one of the key architects behind it.

With Phase One of the University of Birmingham's Capital Development Programme complete, we caught up with Director of Estates Trevor Payne to look at this first phase over the last six years. We discussed the University's investment within Birmingham City Centre with the redevelopment of the Municipal Bank and its transformation into the Exchange. We also talked about other recently completed and upcoming projects from the School of Engineering to the Health Innovation campus.

The Building Brum podcast is kindly sponsored reality capture and point cloud modelling specialists ScanTech Digital,  Solus, one of the UK’s leading suppliers of commercial floor and wall tiles, APIC UK Limited West Bromwich based Architectural Glazing specialists and Sunbelt Rentals with over 1,500,000 items of equipment- they are the largest providers of equipment hire in the UK.

In the latest Building Brum episode, we are joined by Birmingham businessperson Sunil Johal: Project Director, Property Developer and Restaurateur. Sunil will be telling us more about his in role steering the Argent ship to overcome the collapse of Carillion and save the multimillion pound One Chamberlin Square development. As well as the opportunity to become a property developer and join Detail 2020, an end to end property development and construction delivery. 


Sunny Johal – Director at Detail

 Sunny Johal has vast experience across the real estate sector. He began his career on site as a labourer and went on to spend 4 years working in the construction trades. Since then, building 20 years’ of industry experience, Sunny has made a name for himself in the West Midlands, winning the BCO NextGen Rising Star Award.

 Sunny led on the delivery of the first phases of Paradise Birmingham, including One Chamberlain Square, as Project Director for Argent. He is also a Director of BeFlow, the development management consultancy he founded in 2020 who is delivering One Centenary Way on the Paradise development on behalf of Argent, as well as a Director at Detail DMC.

 Sunny and the team at Detail currently delivering major development opportunities across the West Midlands. This includes Metro Lofts in West Bromwich, which is due to complete later this year, and is the first residential co-working space in the Black Country.

 In addition to his real estate expertise, Sunny is passionate about all thing’s health and fitness. In October 2019 Sunny teamed up with his wife, Tara, to launch their healthy-living restaurant – Salad Box – located on Great Charles Street in Birmingham.

HBD Director Simon Raiye discusses current HBD developments across Birmingham and the West Midlands with  Building Brum's Conor Nolan. From major city center projects to the  £100 million "Phoenix 10" development in Walsall. Download and hear from one of the region's biggest movers and shakers. 

For more information about Building Brum and our Partner's ScanTech Digital and Solus, please visit: https://www.buildingbrum.co.uk

Stephanie Eastwood Associate Director Avison Young │UK and Luke Hillson Design Director Barton Willmore sit down with Building Brum's Conor Nolan to discuss the future of Cities. In this podcast we will be taking a look at smart cities and discussing how cities around the world are evolving to meet changing demands and lifestyles.

For more information about Building Brum and our Partner's ScanTech Digital and Solus. Please visit: https://www.buildingbrum.co.uk/

Join Building Brum Programme Director Conor Nolan as he catches up with Danny Parmer, Business Development Manager at Overbury and British Council for Offices Chair of the Midlands and East Anglia.

Danny's outlook on the city is bold, is clear and it's positive. We are going to be discussing the greatness of Birmingham, from the perceptive of the office. 

For more information about Building Brum partner's ScanTech Digital and Solus. Please visit: https://www.buildingbrum.co.uk/