Centenary Square is a public square on Broad Street in central Birmingham, England, named in 1989 in celebration of the centenary of Birmingham achieving city status (in 1889).

The area was purchased in the early 20th century by the council for the creation of a grand civic scheme to include new council offices, mayor's residence, public library and concert hall. The scheme was abandoned after the arrival of World War II with only half of the planned Baskerville House having been built.

The square is a work of art in itself, with paving, railings and lamps designed by artist Tess Jaray. Work on the square cost £3.4 million.

The square was the centrepiece of the millennium celebrations for the city with singer, Cliff Richard lighting a beacon known as The Flame of Hope, which stands between Baskerville House and The Rep Theatre. Problems with funding have resulted in the flame regularly being turned off.

A replacement of Birmingham Central Library is to be built between Baskerville House and The Rep. A design competition will be held and the winner will be commissioned to design the library.

Features

All sculptures in the square were paid for by the "Per Cent For Arts" scheme which only pays toward building costs if public sculpture forms at least 1% of the entire building project.

• Boulton, Watt and Murdoch (statue, re-gilded September 2006)
• Forward!, a sculpture by Raymond Mason which was unveiled in 1991. It cost £275,000. It was destroyed by arson on 17 April 2003. It was locally known as the "Lurpak sculpture".
• Birmingham Rep theatre
• Industry and Genius (sculpture), in front of Baskerville House
• International Convention Centre and Symphony Hall
• Hall of Memory
• Hyatt Regency Hotel
• In 2005 a Ferris wheel known locally as the Birmingham Wheel was constructed in the square to provide views for the public. The wheel finally closed on 5 September 2006 and was sold to a company in Australia.
• Spirit & Enterprise (fountain, designed by Tom Lomax)

Sources

1. Sculptor surveys statue damage - BBC News, 23 April, 2003 (Retrieved 12 July 2007)
2. BBC: You'll either love it or hate it - July 23, 1999

External links

• Birmingham City Council
• BirminghamUK.com
• Digital Ladywood - Picture of the Forward! sculpture