Elmdon Terminal Building, Birmingham Airport

Elmdon Terminal Building, Birmingham Airport

The Elmdon Terminal Building at Birmingham Airport was designed by Norman and Dawbarn and completed in 1939. It is a reinforced concrete structure with brick and render cladding.

The building is oriented north-south with a distinctive bowed northern end facing the airfield. Large projecting concrete 'wings' extend from either side of the building, originally providing covered areas for passengers boarding aircraft.

The main approach is from the south, where a tall flat elevation features a central entrance beneath a cantilevered balcony supported on thick concrete columns. The balcony retains its original handrail and terminates at each end in a spiral staircase with a stepped central post, originally topped with a lamp, and cantilevered steps with moulded profile to the underside. Above the entrance, full-height stair windows flank a central feature of projecting Art Deco-style engaged columns with finials that step back above the parapet, where there is a further recessed storey. Between these columns are a coat of arms and a clock. The entrance doors have been replaced but occupy the original opening.

The side elevations are dominated by the projecting concrete wings, which occupy the five central structural bays of each elevation and originally contained glass lights to illuminate the covered area below; these are now blocked on the east side. Rows of windows appear above and below the wings. The bowed northern end of the building originally featured balconies at each upper level, but the ground floor has been extended and the upper two balconies infilled to follow the bowed shape. At fourth floor level, the original bowed control tower is set back, with a later control tower, thought to date from the late 1950s, positioned above it.

Since ceasing to be the airport's main terminal, the interior has been significantly altered and subdivided with modern partitions to create office space. The original central concourse, which was double-height, now has a floor inserted between ground and first floor levels, with offices formed on either side of central corridors. The original structural columns survive, indicating the extent of the original double-height space. Some original stairs survive at each end of the building; the southern stairs, used by staff, feature Moderne-style handrails with curving metal sections. The northern public stairs, of which one example survives, have bowed ends with open central sections and curved uprights, and were originally partly enclosed with glass brick walls. At least one section of glass brick wall survives at first floor level, although painted and partially covered, with an original door surround intact.

Upper floors retain some original parquet flooring, with further areas likely remaining beneath modern coverings. The former committee room at second floor level retains its original marble fireplace. At each level, the structural columns marking the original extent of the bowed end of the building survive, with balconies beyond that are now enclosed apart from at first floor level.