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NEWS
AT HAMILTON ARCHITECTS
NOVEMBER 2011
HAMILTON ARCHITECTS RESTORING PORT MOON BOTHY TO PROVIDE KAYAK TRAIL SHELTER
A converted seaside cottage is to provide accommodation for canoeists on Northern Ireland's dramatic North Coast following the launch of the area's first canoe trail. The route has the potential to be one of the most spectacular in Europe. The Port Moon Bay shelter which is being restored by Hamilton Architects will be launched in March and will offer running water, an open fire, composting toilet, lounge area, boat storage, drying room and sleeping space for eight adults.
Northern Ireland Tourist Board culture, heritage and activity tourism manager, Rosemary Lightbody, said: "The North Coast Sea Kayak Trail will offer a completely unique way of exploring the Causeway Coast and the converted cottage at Port Moon is fast becoming the most talked about accommodation in Britain and Ireland."
This project is one of many trails developments being managed by the Countryside Access and Activities Network (CAAN).
Chris Scott, CAAN’s activity tourism manager, said “The North Coast Sea Kayak Trail will offer unparalleled canoeing through one of Europe’s most famous coastlines and it is fantastic that will we soon have high quality bothy accommodation providing the perfect compliment for this fantastic new trail. Both the trail and Port Moon Bothy will reinforce the Causeway Coast as a must see tourist destination for 2012, providing a much needed boost to the local economy along the north coast.”
OCTOBER 2011
Crescent Arts Centre receives National RICS Award
The Crescent Arts Centre received a Community Benefit Commendation Award at the RICS National Awards Ceremony in London on Friday 21 October hosted by TV presenter Julia Bradbury. This category recognises the importance of providing local communities with outstanding facilities and the interaction between a project and the community in which it sits is at the heart of this award. Following a collaborative approach to design, the refurbished Crescent Arts Centre provides increased access and cutting edge facilities for its users.
Crescent Arts Centre team receive the award: RICS President See Lian Ong and his wife; David Hill, Chairman Crescent Arts Centre, Julia Bradbury, Host and TV Presenter; Neil Moore, Hamilton Architects
SECRETARY OF STATE OFFICIALLY OPENS HAMILTON HOUSE
Our new premium offices in Belfast city centre were officially opened on Monday 17 October by The Rt. Hon. Owen Paterson MP, Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.
The bespoke offices in Joy Street reflect our confidence in Belfast during challenging times for both the construction sector and the commercial property market.
The Rt. Hon. Owen Paterson MP said “This building is a glowing example of private businesses rebalancing the economy by building offices like this one, employing local people and working with local people. It’s a tremendous original building which has used wonderful materials.”
Hamilton Architects, a vibrant and progressive practice best known most recently for its work on Riddel Hall for Queens University Belfast, has invested heavily in the new development which will help to fill the void for premium office places in central Belfast and make a positive contribution to our economy and our built environment.
Paul Millar, Partner of Hamilton Architects said “Hamilton House represents one of the very few office schemes delivered in 2011 and provides some much needed buoyancy in the marketplace. Our practice occupies the majority of the top two floors and the CBI Northern Ireland has taken office space on the second floor.”
Built by Mascott Construction Ltd, Hamilton House has been shortlisted for the CEF Specify Construction Excellence Awards 2011 which recognises the highly impressive and finest construction projects throughout N.Ireland.
The four storey building occupies a highly prominent and convenient location in Belfast’s prime business district to the south of the City Hall in the Linen Conservation Area.
Letting agent Ciaran Hughes of RHM Commercial commented “We believe Hamilton House offers unique high quality office space which meets the demanding expectations of prospective tenants in terms of location, specification and aesthetics. With flexible spaces available to let ranging from 1500sqft to 6000sqft we are appealing to a wide variety of office occupiers.”
In addition to the high level of finishes, this premium office building incorporates a low carbon displacement air conditioning system, unique to the Belfast office market, which can provide cost savings of up to 66% in comparison to conventional systems,” continued Ciaran.
For further information on leasing office space in the building contact Ciaran Hughes directly on Tel: 028 9031 6741.
L to R :Seamus McCloskey, Partner, Hamilton Architects; The Rt. Hon. Owen Paterson MP Secretary of State for Northern Ireland; The High Sheriff Councillor Ian Adamson; Minister Nelson McCausland; Mark Haslett, Partner, Hamilton Architects; Paul Millar, Partner, Hamilton Architects
HISTORIC RIDDEL HALL IS THE ‘FIRST OF A KIND’
A new Graduate and Executive Education Centre at Queens University opened in early October. Hamilton Architects undertook the £10m refurbishment of the Grade B1 Listed Riddel Hall and the design of a new modern extension. Queens is the first university in the UK and Ireland to open such a dedicated brand new facility which includes a leading Management School, a Graduate School and a Leadership Institute.
SEPTEMBER 2011
SUSTAINABILITY AWARD FOR ENVIRONMENTAL SKILLS CENTRE
Winners in the Sustainable Ireland Awards 2011 were unveiled this month at a glittering ceremony at the Ramada Hotel in Belfast and our client South Eastern Regional College picked up the Sustainability Building Project of the Year award for the Environmental Skills Centre, designed by Hamilton Architect'. This was the sixth year of the awards, which celebrate the contribution industry makes to the environment and to sustainability.
Minister Attwood praised everyone involved in the awards, and congratulated the winners.
Sustainable Ireland general Manager Golda Burrows said: “The sheer volume of entries we received this year has by far exceeded all other years; again the standard and quality of the submissions were exceptionally high and our panel of judges had an extremely difficult task in narrowing it down to the finalists.”
AUGUST 2011
SPECSAVERS ROLL OUT
Hamilton Architects are rolling out the refurbishment and fit-out of stores for Specsavers Optical Superstores Ltd throughout Ireland. The store at Riverview Shopping Centre in Bandon, Cork was the first satellite store to be refurbished and incorporates retail sales space, dispensing, testing and lab facilities within the existing retail unit.
JULY 2011
ENHANCED TOURISM FACILITIES AT CRUMLIN ROAD GOAL
Hamilton Architects are currently undertaking conservation and refurbishment works to the Grade A Listed Gate House and Administration Building at Crumlin Road Gaol. We were appointed on the Design & Build contractor’s team as Conservation Architects for this project which was one of the first conservation projects committed on the gaol site. The refurbished buildings are due to be completed in October 2011 and will provide new tourist, education and conference facilities. Opened in 1845, Crumlin Road Gaol is one of Belfast’s most distinctive landmark buildings and is the best complete Victorian era prison remaining in Northern Ireland.
JUNE 2011
SPECIAL NEEDS THERAPY CENTRE OPEN IN TEMPLEPATRICK
A Donkey Riding Therapy Centre designed by Hamilton Architects was officially opened in June 2011. The Centre at Ballypalady near Templepatrick is the Elizabeth Svendsen Trust’s sixth centre in the UK and includes an indoor riding arena and stables for the donkeys. The centre offers a free donkey-riding therapy service to hundreds of children in Northern Ireland who have special needs and disabilities.
MAY 2011
WE HAVE MOVED!
Hamilton Architects moved into new purpose built offices on Joy Street in Belfast City Centre on 20 May. Known as Hamilton House, the four storey building occupies a highly prominent and convenient location in Belfast’s prime business district to the south of the City Hall in the Linen Conservation Area.
Belfast Architectural firm sweeps the board at regional and national RICS Awards
Hamilton Architects and its associate practice Kriterion Conservation Architects have won a total of five coveted RICS awards in as many days.
At the RICS Northern Ireland Awards ceremony on 17 May 2011, Hamilton Architects received four accolades for the Crescent Arts Centre and the Pier Head Ferry Terminal in Liverpool, whilst Kriterion Conservation Architects was commended for its work on the Antrim Courthouse.
These are Northern Ireland's most prestigious awards which celebrate excellence in the built environment and highlight the outstanding standard of work produced by local building professionals.
The historic Crescent Arts Centre received three RICS accolades: The distinguished and esteemed Project of the Year prize, Winner in the Community Benefit category and Highly Commended in the Building Conservation category. The Crescent Arts Centre will now go forward to the International RICS Awards which culminate in a grand final ceremony in London in October.
One of Northern Ireland’s finest listed buildings, the Antrim Courthouse, was Commended in the Regeneration category.
Last week the Pier Head Ferry Terminal in Liverpool won the RICS North West Award for Tourism & Leisure at a presentation ceremony held in Manchester. The state-of-the-art Ferry Terminal was shortlisted from an original entry of 70 projects.
Paul Millar, Partner of Hamilton Architects and Kriterion Conservation Architects said: We are delighted to win these five awards for three prestigious projects of local and national importance. As a practice what we do best is creating buildings for people and these awards recognise the entire team’s contribution to conserving our built heritage, delivering projects for the community and enhancing tourism.”
RICS Northern Ireland Director, Ben Collins said “In challenging economic conditions, it is encouraging to see visionary construction projects being undertaken to such high quality. The diverse range of entries reflects the wide reaching impact of construction professionals in the economy and in local communities.”
Crescent Arts Centre team - RICS Awards 2011 - (L-R): Kieran Mooney, Braecom; Stuart Robertson, Bennett Robertson Design; Neil Moore, Hamilton Architects; Keith Morrison, WYG; RICS Chairman Professor Alastair Adair; Kieran McMullan, Edmond Shipway; Lynda Bryans
Antrim Courthouse team - RICS Awards 2011 - RICS Chairman Professor Alastair Adair (2nd from left) with Gary Shaw, Catherine McFarland and Reggie Hillen of Antrim Borough Council
APRIL 2011
Award recognition for Hamilton Architects and the Ulster Museum
Hamilton Architects successful regeneration of the Ulster Museum was rewarded at the hotly contested Belfast Business Awards ceremony held on 14 April 2011 at Belfast City Hall. The Practice received a Highly Commended Award for Best Regeneration Project, recognizing our involvement in the monumental Ulster Museum project which has significantly improved and revitalized an area in Belfast.
Mark Haslett, Partner of Hamilton Architects said, “The refurbished Ulster Museum has already won many prestigious awards on a local and national level, but we are proud and delighted to receive recognition from our own city council.”
Seven organizations were shortlisted in the Best Regeneration Project category, which was won by Titanic Quarter. The cream of the Belfast business world was recognized at the Gala Ceremony hosted by BBC Broadcasters Sarah Travers and Mark Simpson.
MARCH 2011
OPERA HITS A HIGH NOTE WITH DEPUTY FIRST MINISTER
NI Opera and sponsors Hamilton Architects last night (24 March) welcomed the Deputy First Minister, Martin McGuiness MP MLA, to an opera taster event in advance of the company’s first production of Tosca, which comes to the city next week.
NI Opera is staging Puccini’s Tosca – a thrilling tale of lust, murder and power – as never before in Northern Ireland. Each act of the three-act thriller will be staged in a different iconic building in the city, with the audience, singers and orchestra moving between venues during the performance.
This moving production will be a first for Derry and for Northern Ireland, and is intriguing opera fans and novices alike. The buzz around the production was added to last night with an event hosted by key sponsors, Hamilton Architects. Guests were treated to a sample of arias sung by local Derry-born singers, Aaron O’Hare and John Porter, two members of the NI Opera chorus who will perform in Tosca.
Seamus McCloskey, Partner, Hamilton Architects, said: “We are delighted to host this event, in advance of NI Opera’s first production. It is great to see the Deputy First Minister taking such an interest in the cultural life of our city, of which he is an avid supporter.”
Roy Bailie, Chair of NI Opera, added: “We are really thankful to Hamilton Architects for hosting this great event tonight. We are delighted to see so many people, including the Minister, lending their support to our first ever production and we hope the people of Derry and further afield will be thoroughly entertained by our production of Tosca next week.”
(L-R)Seamus McCloskey, Hamilton Architects; Roy Balie, Chairman, NI Opera; Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness, MP; and NI Opera singer, Aaron O’Hare.
ATTWOOD CONFIRMS FUNDING PACKAGE FOR FORMER TEMPLEMORE AVENUE SCHOOL
Social Development Minister Alex Attwood has confirmed funding for the refurbishment of the former Templemore Avenue School in East Belfast.
Hamilton Architects design team was awarded this project last year but it was put on hold primarily due to lack of funding. “We are delighted with the news that the Minister has secured funding which will allow the East Belfast Community Development Agency to proceed with this much needed community project,” said Mark Haslett, Partner, Hamilton Architects.
Announcing the funding, Alex Attwood said: “This is great news for the people of East Belfast. I have managed to secure crucial funding for the refurbishment of the former Templemore Avenue School and this is a much needed boost in an area which requires significant regeneration. The former Templemore Avenue School is a local landmark which must be preserved. My vision is that it can become a focal point and a valuable resource for people in both communities which border the school.”
The Department’s funding of just over £2.0 million is part of a combined £4.6 million investment package which will greatly enhance a contested interface in east Belfast and provide a much needed shared facility for both sides of the local community.
 HAMILTON ARCHITECTS AND KRITERION CONSERVATION ARCHITECTS ARE MOVING IN MAY 2011 TO NEW PURPOSE BUILD HIGH SPECIFICATION OFFICES AT HAMILTON HOUSE, 3 JOY STREET, BELFAST BT2 8LE.
Ground, first and part of the second floor are available to lease. For information on leasing office space in the building contact Ciaran Hughes, RHM Commercial, Tel:028 9031 6741.
FEBRUARY 2011
 OPERA PROVES A SOUND INVESTMENT
NI Opera, the new regional opera company, today announced its first funding boost thanks to support from Hamilton Architects.
Hamilton Architects are the first corporate sponsor to lend support to NI Opera’s production and have been encouraged by NI Opera’s commitment to showcasing young Northern Irish talent and their innovative use of spaces and buildings to stage its performances.
Seamus McCloskey, Partner, Hamilton Architects said “We are delighted to assist NI Opera in bringing this unique art-form to Derry which will further enhance the arts in our cultural city. We hope our sponsorship will go some way to support young NI talent and bring opera to a whole new audience.”
Tosca, a thrilling tale of lust, murder and power, will be performed as never before in N.Ireland. Each act of the three-act thriller will be staged in a different iconic building in the city, with the audience moving between venues during the performance - St Columb’s Cathedral, the Guildhall and St Columb’s Hall. This multi-site production will be a first for Derry and for N.Ireland, and promises to keep audiences on their toes from start to finish.
The Tosca cast features internationally-regarded Northern Irish singer Giselle Allen; Mexican tenor Jesus Leon; and some of the island’s finest younger singers.
Oliver Mears, Artistic Director, NI Opera added: “We are really pleased that Hamilton Architects have given their support to our production. Choosing Derry as the location to showcase our first opera was very important. Not only is it a beautiful and historic city that lends itself well to the story of Tosca, but it is also an exciting time to be here with the UK city of culture title and the thriving arts scene.
Tosca will run on 31st March, 1st April (matinee) and 2nd April 2011. Tickets priced at £15 / concession £12 are now available from the Millennium Forum box office. For more information on NI Opera, or to find out how you can help support the Tosca production, visit www.niopera.com.
JANUARY 2011
Access Award for historic Crescent Arts Centre
The Crescent Arts Centre was recently awarded a William Keown Trust Access Award at a ceremony held at the Silverbirch Hotel in Omagh. This prestigious award recognises the team's contribution to providing an accessible, user-friendly environment in one of the Belfast’s most historic listed buildings which reopened in April last year.
Adrian Blythe, Director of The William Keown Trust cited “A lot of thought has gone into the refurbishment from a disability point of view including signs on doors in both raised letters and Braille, automatic lighting in corridors and toilets, a passenger lift that fully complies with accessibility standards, the provision of induction loops in multi-purpose rooms, controls mounted at suitable heights and excellent disability toilets provision.
The Crescent Arts Centre has made every effort to provide an inclusive environment and they are committed to equality of provision for all of their visitors, staff, and students. They engaged with end-users to set priorities and find design solutions to provide modern, flexible, accessible arts spaces and facilities for a range of diverse users, accommodating all their different needs.”
Founded by Bill Keown thirty years ago, The William Keown Trust highlights the achievements and promotes the dignity of people with disabilities.
Photo (Left to Right): Neil Moore, Hamilton Architects; Keith Acheson, Crescent Arts Centre; Trevor Taylor, William Keown Trust; Moya Fitzpatrick, Hamilton Architects; Sam Clingan, Gilbert Ash.
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