Austin-Smith:Lord has been commissioned to design a new extension to the existing estate of facilities operated by Birmingham Hippodrome in the centre of the city.

This development will provide a new dance studio and changing facilities for professional and community use, office space for One Dance UK; the national body for dance who are relocating from London, meeting spaces, a reception and a kitchenette.

The rooftop addition, together with the Hippodrome, DanceXchange and Birmingham Royal Ballet complex, will form a coherent suite of facilities for the Dance Community in Birmingham and the greater West Midlands area.

The Dance Hub will have a clear identity of its own, challenging it’s dated Post-modern host building, yet elegant in appearance and complimenting its base in rhythm and colour. Not a replica, a seamless transition, or cleverly concealed, but as a new layer to the story.

The architectural plans for the Dance Hub in Birmingham look very exciting. This collaborative space certainly promises to provide something special. It is great to see that the city has taken this opportunity to further accelerate the West Midlands’ reputation as an international leader in the most inclusive of art forms. This looks to be a great addition to the region’s thriving cultural offer.

Peter Knott – Area Director, Arts Council England