New airport hotel took just four weeks to construct
A NEW Hilton Hotel in Birmingham has opened its doors after a construction period lasting just four weeks.
Based at Birmingham Airport, the 178-room hotel utilised an innovative approach to construction devised in China.
The Hilton Garden Inn has become the sixth hotel to open for business at the airport.
The hotel, on Concorde Road, was assembled on site in a way which has been compared to Lego.
The construction employed an modular technique under which its parts, including the guest rooms, were manufactured in China and shipped over for assembly.
The modules were shipped to Southampton via container ship before making the trip on a transporter to Birmingham Airport, where a crane lifted them into place.
The new hotel followed a franchise deal between Hilton and Castlebridge Hotels.
The construction was carried out by contractor Bowmer & Kirkland in partnership with CIMC Modular Building Systems.
The company has already used the same concept on Hampton by Hilton airport hotels in Aberdeen and Bristol.
Speaking about the construction process Jenna Dienn, commercial director, Castlebridge Group, said: “The ground floor is a steel-framed structure. Above the ground floor we have the bedroom modules which use container technology. They were near enough completely built in China and shipped to the UK.
“They came to Southampton initially and were eventually craned in. They are self-support- ing. It’s a great concept and they were all installed within four weeks. It was weather dependent of course but it really was a very quick installation.”
One module might typically consist of two bedrooms and a section of coridor.
In total 109 modules were used in the hotel’s construction.
The Hilton Garden Inn’s official opening also saw the completion of its sale to the Blackrock UK Property Fund for an undisclosed sum.
Castlebridge Hotels will continue to manage the hotel.