Architecture firms Heatherwick Studio and Manica Architecture have unveiled their design for a striking new 62,000-seat stadium for Birmingham City Football Club in Birmingham, England. The innovative stadium, named "The Powerhouse," features 12 distinctive brick chimneys surrounding the structure and will serve as the centerpiece of the Sports Quarter in east Birmingham.
This marks the first stadium project for Heatherwick Studio, created in collaboration with US-based Manica Architecture and director Steven Knight. The design draws direct inspiration from Birmingham's industrial heritage, particularly the city's former brickworks, with the 12 brick chimneys serving both aesthetic and functional purposes as they support the stadium's roof structure.
"Too often, stadiums feel like spaceships that could have landed anywhere, sterilizing the surrounding area," said Thomas Heatherwick, founder of Heatherwick Studio. "This stadium grows from Birmingham itself – from its brickworks, its thousand trades, and the craft at its core. It's also a wholehearted place for the community. The stadium will truly come alive where it meets the ground; a place for play, gathering, and everyday life. The goal is to capture the spirit of the city and give it back to Birmingham."
The massive 62,000-seat capacity will make The Powerhouse the second-largest stadium in England, trailing only Manchester United's Old Trafford stadium, which is currently set for redesign by Foster + Partners. The Championship team Birmingham City Football Club will call this architecturally ambitious venue home, featuring a traditional seating bowl topped by a steel roof suspended from the iconic brick chimneys.
Beyond their structural role, the chimneys will house practical facilities including elevators and staircases. One chimney will contain a bar that will become the highest in Birmingham, offering fans unique views of the city. The stadium has been designed as a multipurpose venue capable of hosting both sporting events and musical performances, featuring a retractable roof and movable pitch to accommodate various events.
This project represents a significant milestone for Heatherwick Studio, which previously proposed designs for the 2012 Olympic Velodrome and was commissioned to design a stand for Fulham Football Club in 2016 before being replaced by Populous. The studio continues to work on numerous high-profile projects both in the UK and internationally, including a "ribbon-like" waterfront park in Kentucky, while recently completing a Longchamp store in New York and a tree-like park in China.
The Powerhouse stadium design emphasizes community integration and aims to avoid the isolated "spaceship" effect that Heatherwick criticized in many modern stadiums. By incorporating Birmingham's industrial heritage into the design through the distinctive chimney features and brick construction, the architects hope to create a venue that truly belongs to and serves the local community while providing world-class facilities for both players and spectators.
