Grand Central, Birmingham

Birmingham’s Grand Central has been transformed with a stunning new lighting installation as part of a £2m upgrade to the New Street Mall by Hammerson. The centerpiece of the refresh is a 40m-long Spectraglass ceiling, designed, fabricated, and installed by The Light Lab. Inspired by natural waveforms and utilizing SPI LED technology, the Spectraglass fins form a digitally animated, undulating canvas that brings dynamic energy to the space.

As the first public installation of its kind in Europe—pioneered at Penn Station, New York—this innovative feature is programmable with intelligent lighting controls, allowing infinite possibilities of color, movement, and animation, creating a truly captivating visual experience.

This innovative lighting element enhances the mall’s identity and visibility, transforming it into a vibrant and engaging destination. Alongside this, ‘The Helix’ a bespoke DNA-inspired feature in the atrium, complements the Spectraglass, completing the refreshed and expressive character of Grand Central.