Driving regeneration between Birmingham’s beating hearts – a panel discussion

At the recent Zak World of Façades 2025 conference held in Birmingham, a panel of industry experts gathered to explore the regeneration of Great Charles Street, a pivotal area connecting Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter and the Colmore Business District.

The session was expertly moderated by our own Director of Façades, Iain Gray, a local façade engineer with a deep-rooted knowledge of Birmingham’s architectural landscape. The panel featured key figures involved in the project: Andrew Richards, Project Architect at Weedon Architects; Ange Francis, Head of Facades at John Sisk & Son; Bartolomé Varela, UK Director of Inasus; and Mark Pniewski, Engineering Director at Thorp Precast.

With Iain guiding the conversation, the discussion delved into the technical and contextual complexities of this ambitious urban regeneration project. The panellists shared their perspectives and experiences, including details on design challenges, material choices, fire safety measures, and the collaborative approach that shaped Great Charles Street’s transformation.

BB7 was proud to support this event as the agenda partner, continuing our commitment to advancing façade engineering excellence and sustainable urban development.

You can watch the full panel discussion on ‘Driving Regeneration Between Birmingham’s Beating Hearts – A Case Study of Great Charles Street’ in the Zak World of Facades video below.