Mace has taken over from Buckingham Group at the St. Andrew’s stadium redevelopment.
Birmingham City Football Club (BCFC) appointed Mace construction manager of the Tilton Lower and Kop Lower Stand works today (11 September).
Buckingham Group had been construction manager before it formally entered administration last week. Mace was already a key member of the project team.
BCFC will be responsible for the management of all sub-contractors working on remedial works to the lower Tilton and Kop stands, it said.
The Lower Tilton standing area will accommodate more than 3,000 Blues fans, and the Kop Lower Stand an additional 3,600.
When complete, now scheduled to be the end of November, St. Andrew’s capacity will be close to 30,000.
The news follows Rayner Rowen Construction taking over from Buckingham Group at the Anfield Road Stand site for Liverpool Football Club (LFC).
Swansea Council is also in talks with alternative contractors for its Copr Bay scheme in Wales where Buckingham Group was the main contractor.
The £700 million turnover business collapsed after 36 years of trading, resulting in the loss of nearly 450 jobs.
Kier Group agreed to acquire all the Group’s rail assets, and its HS2 contract, for £9.6 million, safeguarding 180 jobs.
“On behalf of all Blues fans, I would like to thank the Mace team for stepping forward and helping us in our time of need,” said Birmingham City CEO, Garry Cook. “By appointing Mace to the construction management role, we have ensured we will be in a position to achieve our goal of having close to 30,000 Blues fans, in person at St. Andrew’s, supporting the team later this autumn.
“Sub-contractors who have worked so hard to get us to this point will now have the opportunity to finish the work they have started. More than 50% of our sub-contractors live in and around Birmingham so it is important that we have been able to get them back to work so quickly.”
Adding: “I would like to thank the Buckingham Group team members for their commitment and passion to the Birmingham City project. They are professionals who find themselves in a challenging situation. Our hope is that they all find new and rewarding opportunities in the very near future.”
Managing director, property UK & Europe, Mace Consult, Dan Easthope, said: “Over the coming weeks, Mace will be drawing on our global expertise in stadium and venue delivery, working closely with Birmingham City Football Club and all of the suppliers currently supporting the project to ensure that the remaining work can continue with the minimum of disruption.
“Although the circumstances are unfortunate, we’re pleased that Birmingham City have put their faith in us. We’re confident that we have the right team in place to deliver the outstanding work in a timely manner and ensure that as many fans as possible will be able to support the Club at St. Andrew’s this autumn.”
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