Firms picked for HS2 station design contracts

The two engineers have won two design contracts apiece worth a total of £70m.

WSP has been chosen to design Birmingham Curzon Street and Old Oak Common, while Arup has scooped Birmingham Interchange and the highly sought-after Euston redevelopment contract.

Arcadis missed out on the Birmingham Interchange and Euston deals, while a joint venture between Jacobs, BuroHappold and Idom Merebrook was unsuccessful in its bids for Birmingham Curzon, Birmingham Interchange and Old Oak Common.

Mott MacDonald was also an unsuccessful bidder for Birmingham Curzon and Old Oak Common.

WSP had targeted the Euston and Birmingham Interchange deals, while Arup also bid for Old Oak Common and Birmingham Curzon.

WSP will work with Grimshaw Architects on Birmingham Curzon Street and Wilkinson Eyre on Old Oak Common, while Arup will team up with Wilkinson Eyre on Birmingham Interchange and Grimshaw for Euston.

The announcement comes as some of the biggest construction firms battle it out for the station construction contracts.

In December, CN revealed that a number of heavyweight JVs were bidding for the stations deals: Balfour Beatty / Vinci, Bam Nuttall / Ferrovial, Bechtel / Morgan Sindall, Laing O’Rourke / Canary Wharf Contractors, Mace / Dragados and Skanska / Costain.

HS2 chief executive Mark Thurston said: “Our new stations in London and Birmingham will be at the heart of the first phase of the project, increasing capacity, improving journeys and helping to unlock opportunities for tens of thousands of new jobs and homes around what will be four new landmark buildings.

“That’s why I’m delighted to welcome these talented designers to the team, and we look forward to working with them to create station designs which showcase world-class architecture, ease of use and value for money that our passengers and communities expect and deserve.”