University Station has won a RIBA West Midlands Award 2026, recognising the transformational redevelopment of one of the region’s busiest transport hubs. Designed by Associated Architects and delivered by VolkerFitzpatrick in collaboration with Mott MacDonald on behalf of the West Midlands Combined Authority, the project represents a major investment in regional connectivity and public infrastructure.

Originally opened in 1978 to accommodate around 700,000 journeys per year, the station now serves up to 3.5 million passengers annually and has been designed to support future growth of up to 7.2 million users each year. The redevelopment delivers a significantly improved passenger experience through new bridges spanning the live railway and canal, wider entrances and circulation spaces, step free access to all platforms, and enhanced connections to the University of Birmingham and University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust campus. The project demonstrates how transport infrastructure can combine civic presence, accessibility and long term community benefit.