Outstanding mid-20th Century Buildings at the University of Birmingham
Outstanding mid-20th century buildings at the University of Birmingham
Friday 12 September 2025
Start time/place: 3pm. The tour will start outside the Strathcona Building, which is near to the Barber Institute, near to the Edgbaston Park Road entrance to the university.
Finish time/place: 5.15pm/University of Birmingham
A tour of four of the university’s outstanding buildings from the 1960s, designed by Howell Killick Partridge and Amis and Arup Associates.
This is a visit to four of the university’s outstanding buildings from the 1960s, organised by the Twentieth Century Society. We are visiting two buildings designed by the architects Howell Killick Partridge and Amis – the Ashley and Strathcona Buildings, 1961-64 – and two buildings designed by the architects Arup Associates – the Muirhead Tower, 1968-69, and the Mining and Metallurgy Building, 1964. All but the Muirhead Tower are statutorily listed at Grade II. The four buildings are close together, so the visit will not involve much walking. With the assistance of the university, we are able to visit each building both externally and internally. All four buildings make extensive use of concrete, in different forms, and could perhaps be described as Brutalist in nature. They demonstrate the university’s commitment to innovative architecture of a high standard during its growth in the mid-20th century.
Joe Holyoak, architect and urban designer. Joe has experience of master planning, regeneration and community engagement. Previously Joe held the role of Director of the MA (Urban Design) course at Birmingham City University. Joe is Chair of Birmingham City Council’s Conservation and Heritage Panel.
C20 Members: £10
Non-members: £15
Ashley Building, University of Birmingham - HKPA, 1964.
Image credit: Jo Underhill
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The Twentieth Century Society is an IHBC (Institute of Historic Building conservation) recognised CPD provider.
Twentieth Century Society is a registered charity, no 1110244