Birmingham City Football Club has taken a significant stride forward in its ambitious stadium district plans by appointing a world-renowned architectural firm.
Global Architects Appointed for Training Hub
The club's owners, Knighthead Capital Management, have confirmed that the global architecture practice Populous will lead the design of the new training centre at the proposed Sports Quarter. The appointment follows a competitive tender process.
Populous, which boasts offices in London, Kansas City, and Brisbane, is a specialist in designing major sports and entertainment venues. Their prestigious portfolio includes the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Wembley Stadium, and the Aviva Stadium, alongside iconic projects like the Yankee Stadium and Sphere in Las Vegas.
Creating a Unified 'One Campus' Model
The core objective of the new facility is to consolidate the club's disparate training operations onto a single site for the first time. Currently, the men's first team trains at the Elite Performance and Innovation Centre in Henley-in-Arden, while the academy and women's setups are primarily based at the traditional Wast Hills ground.
The new training centre will bring the men's, women's, and academy teams together in a 'one campus' model, located adjacent to the planned new stadium. The club describes this as a "unique opportunity to create a beacon of sporting excellence that is also rooted in the community."
A Beacon for Community and Excellence
In statements released by the club, senior figures outlined the vision behind the project. Head of Infrastructure Nick Smith called it "another important step" in delivering the Sports Quarter, expressing confidence that Populous would help "set new standards in sports infrastructure."
Declan Sharkey, Senior Principal and Global Director at Populous, said the firm aimed to combine its global expertise with a bespoke approach. The goal is to provide an innovative and sustainable performance environment for all teams and staff.
The development is a central pillar of the wider Sports Quarter vision, which also features the recently unveiled design for a new 62,000-seater 'Powerhouse' stadium, hoped to be ready for the 2030/31 season.
