Hortons’ Estate has completed the £4.1 million first phase of the restoration of The Grand on Birmingham’s Colmore Row. Over the coming two months the wraps will be removed, exposing the ornate stone and marble façade of the building, overlooking St Philip’s Cathedral and Church Street, for the first time since 2003.
A replica of the original Grand Hotel sign takes pride of place on the restored Colmore Row façade.
The restoration project involved the stripping down of thousands of stones by hand, with each stone individually examined to determine whether reparation would be possible or a complete replacement was required.
In addition, each of the property’s 180 windows were removed, repaired by skilled carpenters and reinstalled, whilst new flashing was introduced and downpipes were increased in size by 50 per cent to protect the façade from rainwater.
Hortons’ Estate Chief Executive Tony Green said; “In 2011 experts told us that the original stonework was of low durability and the facades of the building were beyond repair and would need to be demolished.
“However, Hortons’ and its professional team found a solution. It is testament to the determination and skill of the craftsmen involved – in particular the stonemasons – that the facades have not only been saved but their appearance is as it would have been when the building was first erected in the late 1800s.
“A decorative sandstone band running the length of the building and marble pilasters on the outside of the ground floor windows along Church Street are among the many original features that have been newly unmasked by the restoration works.”
Historic England contributed £200,000 to the project and Sarah Lewis, principle adviser for Heritage at Risk in the West Midlands, described the unveiling as ‘rewarding and exciting’, while Planning Director for the region Veryan Heal said it represents a ‘massive investment in Birmingham’s heritage’.
Midland Conservation Ltd provided the 40 skilled masons who worked on the project using traditional tools and techniques. Jason Graham, a director of the Aldridge-based firm, said it was a privilege to have been involved with the restoration of the Victorian building which future generations can now enjoy.
Also involved in the scheme were cost consultants PMP, architects Berman Guedes Stretton and Arup Façade Engineering.
Tomas Pearson, senior designer and conservationist at Arup, said: “The Grand is an important part of Birmingham’s history and it is fantastic to have not only ensured the building’s survival but unlocked its commercial future.
“There was a real concern about how the façade would look once its layers of render and decayed stone had been removed, but the result is even better that any of us hoped for.”
By the end of the year, The Grand will have a new roof and a number of refurbished shops and office units, whilst the focus of the restoration team will move to the Barwick Street façade of the property. Altogether, these aspects of the project are expected to cost in the region of £6 million.
Mr Green continued: “The shops and offices on Colmore Row have been well received by the market and we hope to announce some lettings soon.
“We are exploring solutions for the re-instatement of the hotel element of the scheme – however, the cost of creating an upmarket modern hotel within a Grade II listed building is prohibitive compared to the value it creates.
“Our commitment to bringing the whole building back to life, rather than simply restoring its fabric, remains undiminished.”
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