McLaren Construction Midlands and North has been appointed to build a new temple for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Mormons) in Birmingham.
The scheme, which began with a groundbreaking ceremony on 22 March, will involve the demolition of an existing administrative building and the construction of a new temple and ancillary accommodation.
McLaren will also oversee the renovation of the site’s existing meeting house and deliver landscaping, including the planting of mature trees.
The temple will feature a 38-metre-high central spire and a stone façade, while the new two-storey accommodation block will include office space and residential units, and be built using a steel frame with brick and bespoke stone finishes.
The contractor will install new mechanical and electrical systems, including fire protection and advanced security measures.
The project is targeting a BREEAM ‘Excellent’ sustainability rating.
Challenges include the site’s location in a residential area, requiring careful management to avoid disruption to neighbouring properties. A new entrance will be created from Penns Lane, involving diversion of multiple services.
The scheme will require McLaren to source a specific shade of Portuguese limestone to match other Latter-Day Saints temples worldwide.
Due to the height of the spire, the project team is working closely with aviation authorities as the structure sits under Birmingham Airport’s flight path.
Luke Arnold, operations director at McLaren Construction Midlands and North, said the scheme was of “significant importance” to the church and would be delivered with a focus on quality and craftsmanship.
Source: McLaren email press release