Report - Alpha Tower, Birmingham - July 2014

[iamsilverfox]

Visited by myself after a golden window of opportunity showed itself for the rooftop of the second highest building in birmingham. (not counting bt tower because technically that's a mast )

Some history pinched off wiki.

It was designed by George Marsh of Richard Seifert & Partners as the headquarters of the commercial television company ATV and part of the companies' production studio complex known as ATV Centre, an adjacent shorter tower was planned but was never built. ATV closed in 1982, after which the building became offices. Birmingham City Council took a large tenancy of the building until they vacated in 2010. It is the third tallest building in Birmingham.

It is a landmark and is a Grade A locally listed building. It was nominated for listed building status by The Twentieth Century Society in 2002, although the owners applied for a Certificate of Immunity from Listing.

Arena Central Developments sold the building to Catalyst's European Property Fund in 2008 for £42.5 million. Birmingham City Council left tenancy in 2010 leaving the building 77% void. Nationwide Building Society put the building into receivership in 2012 and put it on the market for £10.25 million on 2013.

The building was bought for £14 million in February 2014 by Anglo Scandinavian Estates Group who are set to invest £9 million in a refurbishment of the building.

Only had my film camera, and once again, the dev's arent very good. I will be returning with a decent camera one evening.

Staircase, was nearly did after running up the 24 floors!

Lots of the floors are vacant. Most of them look like this.

probably got cancer now looking at these things

Spent about 1 hour up there, and was pretty hot so i stopped for a little lie down

thanks for looking ​

 

[:meerkat:]

Re: Alpha Tower, Birmingham, July 2014



i spy a crane!

 

[iamsilverfox]

Re: Alpha Tower, Birmingham, July 2014

i spy a crane!

yeah, its only a little one unfortunately

 

[Fudge]

Re: Alpha Tower, Birmingham, July 2014

Nice style of photos if you ask me, nice one.

 

[Indecisive Moment]

Re: Alpha Tower, Birmingham, July 2014

Nice photos, Silverfox

 

[bubblehead]

Re: Alpha Tower, Birmingham, July 2014

Nice one, that has been on my list for years

 

[bhg]

Re: Alpha Tower, Birmingham, July 2014

I really like you shots Silverfox! Thank you for sharing!

 

[Derelict-UK]

Re: Alpha Tower, Birmingham, July 2014

don't give up with that film camera!! love the feel you get from it, reminds me of my college years

 

[Adders]

Re: Alpha Tower, Birmingham, July 2014

Jesus, did you develop it in the canal or something?

 

[The_Raw]

Re: Alpha Tower, Birmingham, July 2014

Jesus, did you develop it in the canal or something?

^ bit harsh!

Personally I really like your shots, looks like they were taken in the 80s which isn't a bad thing as far as I'm concerned, makes a change from the usual

 

[Leeds(Ex)plorer]

Re: Alpha Tower, Birmingham, July 2014

spot on that, nice one

 

[iamsilverfox]

Re: Alpha Tower, Birmingham, July 2014

Thanks guys. The developing is very hit or miss. Went back recently to get some dusk shots. Ill get these re scanned and the other roll done.

 

[Adders]

Re: Alpha Tower, Birmingham, July 2014

^ bit harsh!

Personally I really like your shots, looks like they were taken in the 80s which isn't a bad thing as far as I'm concerned, makes a change from the usual

I didn't say they weren't good shots, they are. But that's either 20 year old film or developed by cowboys.

 

[PopPunkJamie]

Re: Alpha Tower, Birmingham, July 2014

I didn't say they weren't good shots, they are. But that's either 20 year old film or developed by cowboys.

You can get some really cool shots from expired film, liking these photos and that rooftop!

 

[iamsilverfox]

Re: Alpha Tower, Birmingham, July 2014

developed by cowboys.

This is more like it.