Birmingham City Unveils Chimney-Forward Stadium Design

A rendering of the planned Birmingham City Football Club’s new 62,000-capacity stadium.

Heatherwick Studio

A new 62,000-capacity stadium for Birmingham City Football Club in England doesn’t shy away from the city’s industrial roots. The design from Heatherwick Studio and Manica Architecture features 12 towering, chimney-like structures inspired by the site’s history in brick manufacturing.

Expect to see reclaimed brick used throughout the site, but there are plenty of modern amenities in play too, with a retractable roof and a moveable pitch planned.

“Too often, stadiums feel like spaceships that could have landed anywhere, sterilizing the surrounding area,” says Thomas Heatherwick, founder and design director of Heatherwick Studio. “Ours grows from Birmingham itself—from its brickworks, its history of a thousand trades and the craft at the core of its culture.”

The chimneys aren’t just a nostalgia play. They’ll also serve a purpose. The structures directly support the roof and includes elevators and staircases. They will be part of the stadium’s passive ventilation strategy and were optimized for acoustics to help channel sound from the bowl upward while preventing noise pollution in the neighborhood. One of the chimneys will also feature an elevator to transport visitors to what will be the highest bar in Birmingham, with views over the city.

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“The stadium draws upon the proud heritage of the West Midlands—a heritage of industry, ingenuity and growth,” says Tom Wagner, BCFC chairman. “This is a huge milestone for Birmingham City Football Club, creating a home for the club that reflects our ambition to compete at the highest level. More than that, the iconic design is a statement of intent for the City of Birmingham and the West Midlands, testament to a region that is on the rise.”

The design calls for the steepest bowl allowed to bring fans close to the pitch. Heatherwick says the stadium’s acoustics will amplify the sound of the crowd.

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“Designing a new, world-class home for Birmingham City FC was an opportunity our teams embraced with enthusiasm and excitement,” says David Manica, president and owner of Manica Architecture. “Working alongside Heatherwick Studio, we are dedicated to creating a venue that embodies the resilience and pride of the Birmingham community while honoring the club’s lasting legacy within the community.”

The new venue will anchor the Birmingham Sports Quarter in East Birmingham, a site that will include a training center and additional mixed-use developments. The team aims to have the new stadium ready for the start of the 2030/2031 soccer season.

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