Mace runs up £70m deal to manage Commonwealth Games stadium revamp

Mace has been appointed project manager on the £70m overhaul of Birmingham’s Alexander Stadium ahead of the 2022 Commonwealth Games.

The revamp of the stadium, which is already home to governing body UK Athletics, will increase capacity from 12,700 to 40,000 for the duration of the event. New community sports facilities, a permanent warm-up track and a conference meeting space will also be built.

The stadium is set to host both the opening and closing ceremonies as well as the athletics events for the 2022 Games.

It currently consists of 12,700 permanent seats housed across four stands. The back straight stand, which was built in 2012 with a capacity of 5,000, will remain but the other three stands will be demolished and rebuilt.

The search for an architect has begun, with the city council wanting a firm to design a new stand to replace the three that are to be demolished.

Mace has been working with Populous on its late-running stadium for Tottenham Hotspur.

The new stand will increase the permanent capacity after the Games to 20,000. During the event, temporary structures will create a 40,000-seater stadium.

In addition to the new stand, a 400m outdoor practice running track will be permanently housed at a nearby high-performance centre.

In July, Building revealed that Wates had secured the deal to build Sandwell Aquatics Centre, which will play host to swimming and diving at the Games, under the Scape framework.