Report - 12 Calthorpe Rd, Birmingham - March 2024

[Lucazade]

Hello, this is my first report so correct me on any mistakes I make, cheers.
12 Calthorpe Rd is an office building built in 1962 which stands derelict today. Finding history on this building seems tough but I managed to find an old photo from 1968 labelling it as the 'Shell-Max House'. Renovated in 1999, it is also a former HSBC building until they moved to Arena Central in 2018, the building has sat empty since. Although MRE (Mercian Real Estate) got the green light to transform the 11-storey tower block into student accommodation and the smaller, 5-storey block into a hotel, this green light had been announced back in the middle of 2021 and it appears there's only been some slight stripping of the 2nd storey.

Personally, I've been here a couple times just for the view of Birmingham, as the known 'Five Ways Tower' has began demolition and security is extremely tight there. There are kids there almost every weekend, I've seen a couple destructive groups too destroying the highest floors.

The roof is fairly good with a decent view of the Birmingham skyline and Five Ways roundabout. I've seen a fallen elevator with the cables spaghettied up at the bottom so I don't know it this was an act of vandalism or it genuinely gave way due to corrosion (the other lifts seem perfects fine though). Still on the subject of lifts, their pulleys are above in the roofs if you have a knack for the mechanisms.

Here are some photos I have collected:

The stripped 2nd floor.

Some peeling of the staircase paint.

View of Brum.

Five Ways Tower also standing vacant.

Flooding of the 6th floor.

Stretching hallways.

View of Five Ways Tower through the window of the stairwell.

Revolving Walk-throughs.

Boiler Room




Thank you all for viewing, feel free to give me any advice.

 

[The Young One]

Decent report mate but don't post the exact location otherwise it's a matter of time until some knob burns it down

 

[Seffy]

Decent report mate but don't post the exact location otherwise it's a matter of time until some knob burns it down

Most reports on this forum give the exact location!

Good report - have you got more photos from the roof?

 

[Exploring with Andy]

Decent report mate but don't post the exact location otherwise it's a matter of time until some knob burns it down

The proper name of the location is a requirement on here. In this case, the building is named after its address, so the thread is titled correctly

 

[The Young One]

I stand corrected

 

[Mr_E]

I really enjoyed browsing this place a while back, did it a couple times! Night time explore and rooftop in the daytime! Nice one

 

[Lucazade]

Most reports on this forum give the exact location!

Good report - have you got more photos from the roof?

Thanks Seffy! After researching, I couldn't find an actual name for the building other than it's address, which I presumed was just the name. Here are some more photos of the roof (Stairwell + window shot too) :

 

[dansgas1000]

Decent stuff, worth it for the views alone.

 

[Shmokes]

Want to see the view today?

Decent stuff, worth it for the views alone.

 

[Calamity Jane]

Lovely roof shots 👍

 

[Seffy]

Thanks Seffy! After researching, I couldn't find an actual name for the building other than it's address, which I presumed was just the name. Here are some more photos of the roof (Stairwell + window shot too) :

Nice one - I’ll add them to the main report 👍🏻

 

[Lotusisok]

Nice report mate, good shots. Been eyeing this one up for a while so it's nice to see someone post about it

 

[Lucazade]

Nice report mate, good shots. Been eyeing this one up for a while so it's nice to see someone post about it

Cheers mate 👍

 

[moldandasbestos]

Hello, this is my first report so correct me on any mistakes I make, cheers.
12 Calthorpe Rd is an office building built in 1962 which stands derelict today. Finding history on this building seems tough but I managed to find an old photo from 1968 labelling it as the 'Shell-Max House'. Renovated in 1999, it is also a former HSBC building until they moved to Arena Central in 2018, the building has sat empty since. Although MRE (Mercian Real Estate) got the green light to transform the 11-storey tower block into student accommodation and the smaller, 5-storey block into a hotel, this green light had been announced back in the middle of 2021 and it appears there's only been some slight stripping of the 2nd storey.

Personally, I've been here a couple times just for the view of Birmingham, as the known 'Five Ways Tower' has began demolition and security is extremely tight there. There are kids there almost every weekend, I've seen a couple destructive groups too destroying the highest floors.

The roof is fairly good with a decent view of the Birmingham skyline and Five Ways roundabout. I've seen a fallen elevator with the cables spaghettied up at the bottom so I don't know it this was an act of vandalism or it genuinely gave way due to corrosion (the other lifts seem perfects fine though). Still on the subject of lifts, their pulleys are above in the roofs if you have a knack for the mechanisms.

Here are some photos I have collected:

The stripped 2nd floor.

Some peeling of the staircase paint.

View of Brum.

Five Ways Tower also standing vacant.

Flooding of the 6th floor.

Stretching hallways.

View of Five Ways Tower through the window of the stairwell.

Revolving Walk-throughs.

Boiler Room




Thank you all for viewing, feel free to give me any advice.

cracking pics, equipment list for geeks