bespoke planters for business district development
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Snowhill Three

Project Location: Birmingham B4

Bespoke steel planters were commissioned for Three Snowhill – the final phase of the largest and most prestigious development in Birmingham's central business district. 

The Scope of Works covered three elements:

  • 2nr. H 3000mm sculptures – the ‘Feature Monoliths’
  • 8nr. ‘Podium Level Planters’, integrated with recessed luminaire lighting, to form an outside meeting area next to the restaurant and metro line
  • 23nr. large public realm planters – the ‘Queensway Planters’ – to form a green protected walkway between Three Snowhill and the extremely busy Queensway road system  

The Queensway Planters, in particular, were a substantial undertaking – key metrics include:

  • Total Length of Planters: 55m
  • Supplied in 23nr. Sections, the largest L 2536 x W 1624mm
  • Avg Weight each Section: 460kg
  • HIAB Trailers to Supply: 8nr.
  • Installation Programme: 2 weeks

Massively constructed from 3.0mm, 4.0mm and 5.0mm steel, the Queensway Planters include internal sub-frames, strengthened floors, and lifting eyes, to enable safe lifting fully-loaded at a maximum weight of 6 tonnes [SWL tested and certificated].

The planters were fabricated from 3.0mm Steel, zinc primed and Polyester Powder Coated to RAL 7040 [Window grey]; using a durable, matte, textured paint formulation from Interpon / Akzo Nobel's D1036 Textura range. Full details of the paint system used is given in drawing ‘R3-Main Assy’ in the Image Gallery.

IOTA’s planters were commissioned by principal contractors BAM Construction, on the basis of Design, Manufacture and Supply. IOTA also arranged for Installation, under separate contract, via its strategic installation partner.

Three Snowhill is the final element of the Snowhill Plaza – Ballymore’s long-term project, and central to Birmingham’s ‘Vision 2030’ master plan for redeveloping the city’s central business district. The 17-storey, glass-clad building adds another 420,000 sq ft of office space to Snowhill; and the £200 million scheme is the largest ever speculative city centre office scheme built outside of London.

Project Specs




  • Public Realm & Streetscape
  • Design, Manufacture, Supply, Installation
  • 2019
  • BAM Construction / Ballymore Properties
  • Fira

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