Belfast Waterfront Hall Original 1997

Specification
Facilities 2,223 seat auditorium
380 person Studio
14 smaller rooms
Project cost £37 million
Work End User Consultant
Completion 1997
Location Belfast, Northern Ireland
Finance Local Authority and ERDF
Architect Robertson & McIlwaine
Contractor Gilbert Ash

Belfast Waterfront Hall Extension 2016

Specification
Facilities 2 major halls (divisible into 6)
6 smaller rooms
Project cost £27 million
Work Operational Design Advisor
Completion May 2016
Location Belfast, Northern Ireland
Finance Local Authority, NITB and ERDF
Architect Todd Architects
Contractor TBA
www.waterfront.co.uk

Having worked on the original development of Waterfront Hall prior to its opening in 1997, due to its success, and our working relationship with the City, we were appointed to work on the extension.

The extension to the Waterfront Belfast opened for business on 29th April 2016.

Our role included:

  • Feasibility work
  • Facilitate workshops for Clients’ views of design
  • Design brief
  • Review and contribute to design development
  • Assess and influence ongoing building
  • Operational procedures
  • Signage and F,F & E procurement

The Right Solution was involved with all stages of the development of the new facilities for several years, having been appointed initially to look at the feasibility of an extension. We  then prepared the design brief for the project and worked with the design team, led by Todd Architects, to create the detailed design.

The funding for the project was established with Belfast City Council and European grants making up the budget. The European grant was contingent on a very tight deadline for completion of the project, which was in effect the building of the extension in just one year. Having won the tender for the project, local main contractor, McLaughlin & Harvey, took on the challenge and delivered on time and on budget. The Right Solution worked closely with the main contractor and their sub-contractors to ensure that operators and end users needs were uppermost at all times for the development.

We worked closely with the operators of the Waterfront Hall to ensure that operational procedures for the new facilities were in place. In conjunction with the project manager (from Belfast City Council), we developed the signage and FF&E for the building.  Several test events were held prior to the commercial opening of the extension. The Waterfront now offers a comprehensive conference, banqueting, exhibition and entertainment venue, with the main auditorium for over 2,000 people, the new halls 1 and 2 with flat floor, flexible space and a range of breakout rooms, all with the latest technical facilities.

The Right Solution is proud to have worked with Belfast on this project.