|
NEWS
AT HAMILTON ARCHITECTS
HAMILTON ARCHITECTS ARE THE WINNER OF THE UTV BUSINESS EYE ARCHITECT OF THE YEAR
At a glittering awards ceremony at the Culloden Hotel on Friday 16 October, Hamilton Architects were awarded the Architect of the Year award.
The event now in its third year rewards the very best of the Northern Ireland business community. Hundreds of entries were received across the 15 different categories and the winners in each case beat off stiff competition, with over 50 firms submitting an entry in some categories.
Paul Millar, Partner of Hamilton Architects said “We are thrilled to win this prestigious award and were extremely proud to accept it on Friday night.” The Architect of the Year Award recognizes and honours the individual or firm of architects responsible for making a significant contribution to development in both Belfast and Northern Ireland as a whole.
“Our work spans both public and private sectors throughout Northern Ireland and we have many key projects which we believe make a significant difference to the development of Northern Ireland and people’s lives. As a practice we are proud of our achievements and are confident we deliver buildings fit for purpose and fit for people,” continued Paul.
Hamilton Architects’ entry was judged on key projects including the refurbishment of the Ulster Museum, the Chinese Community & Resource Centre, a new Medicines Facility for The Royal Group of Hospitals, a Daycare Facility for adults with learning difficulties for the South Eastern Health & Social Care Trust and the Greysteel Regeneration project.
UNDISCOVERED BOX OF DELIGHT AT THE REVITALISED ULSTER MUSEUM
Award winning Hamilton Architects are overwhelmed by the public’s positive reaction
With the official opening of the new revitalized Ulster Museum only days away, Hamilton Architects today announced their pride and delight in being involved with such a monumental building which is a legacy to the people of Northern Ireland.
Paul Millar, Partner of Hamilton Architects said that the refurbishment and opening up of the Ulster Museum is without doubt Hamilton Architects’ key piece of work this year. “We are extremely proud of what we have achieved and are thrilled with how we have transformed what was a tired space into an open, accessible and organic living museum,” said Paul.
At a special event for family and friends of the Ulster Museum’s staff, the excitement of visitors – young and old - and their visible delight of discovery was very humbling added Paul. “As a practice what we do best is creating buildings for people and, given the significant importance of this building to the people of Northern Ireland, we are overwhelmed by the public’s positive reaction.”
The refurbished and revitalized Museum has been opened up to create additional gallery space, completely refurbished galleries, state-of-the-art visitor facilities and a new restaurant opening out to Botanic Gardens. Parts of the building, previously used for offices, have been given back to the open gallery space, and stunning stained glass windows which were partially hidden can now be fully appreciated in the main orientation gallery space and the Living World gallery.
The museum officially opens on 22 October and normal opening times will be Tuesday to Sunday 10am to 5pm throughout the year. Admission is free.
For further details on the Ulster Museum please visit the museum's website.
Read Simon Calder's views on the museum in an article in The Independent (17 October 2009).
PLANNING PERMISSION GRANTED FOR NEW CLONMEL STADIUM
Planning permission has been granted for this project which involves the demolition of the existing stand and associated buildings and the construction of a new 12,000sqft greyhound stadium to cater for up to 900 people.
NEW CHURCH CENTRE TO ENHANCE LOCAL COMMUNITY AMENITIES
Hamilton Architects have been appointed as architects to design a new Church Centre for Knock Methodist Church, Belfast.
The new Knock Methodist Church Centre is to be built on land behind the existing centre which will be demolished once the new centre is constructed. The single storey development will comprise a main hall/auditorium with stage (250 seat capacity) and a minor hall for youth organisations and Sunday School. The centre will include a social/meeting area and dedicated youth lounge, meeting rooms and offices. The building will be used by the whole of the local community for sport and leisure activities, pantomimes, conferences, church functions, church administration, private prayer, uniformed youth organisations and other youth groups.
BUILDING WORK COMMENCED ON NEW SPORTS VIEWING STAND, INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, CARLOW
Work commenced on site in September to construct a new €2m sports viewing stand for the Institute of Technology Carlow. BAM Contractors have been appointed to build the new stand which will seat 650 people and includes changing facilities and seminar rooms.
The ground floor internal accommodation includes four team changing rooms with dedicated showers, toilet and treatment facilities, referees room, treatment room and public toilets. The first floor accommodates three large seminar rooms which are subdivided by sliding / folding partitions, offices and welfare facilities. It is anticipated it will be completed by February 2010.
NEW ARTS CENTRE FOR THE DEAF COMMUNITY
Hands That Talk, a registered charity, has appointed Hamilton Architects to design a new £1.4m Arts Centre in Dungiven for the deaf community.
The new innovative centre will serve the entire deaf community in the North West region providing a multi-purpose exhibition space, café/gallery, associated classrooms, video editing suite and two office units to let out. Hands That Talk was set up in early 2000 as a direct response to the enormous gap in provision for those people in the community who are either deaf or hard of hearing. The Charity is peopled by volunteers from all sections of the community and since its establishment, has grown to be the largest Deaf Community in Ireland and is the only Deaf Community organisation of its kind in N.Ireland. Hamilton Architects have extensive experience in community related schemes and are delighted to be involved with this caring community project.
NEW LEASE OF LIFE FOR ARMAGH GAOL
Our associate practice, Kriterion Conservation Architects, has been appointed by The Osborne Group as conservation architects and designers to redevelop Armagh Gaol.
This commission involves the restoration and regeneration of the complete gaol site to include conversion of the significant listed buildings to provide a destination hotel and associated tourism development accommodation, providing a new sustainable use for the vacant buildings whilst also preserving the Gaol’s architectural integrity and historic importance. The conservation works will include retention of details of heritage merit and careful detailing of alterations and insertions.
Armagh Gaol, a Grade B+ listed building located within the Armagh Conservation Area, is one of Northern Ireland’s most important historic buildings The Osborne Group and the Prince’s Regeneration Trust were selected by Armagh District Council earlier this year to start developing proposals for its regeneration. The Osborne Group has previously transformed Oxford Gaol into the critically acclaimed and award winning Malmaison hotel.
The site is a flagship project of great importance to the City's continued growth over the next decade and will give the Gaol a new lease of life whilst greatly benefitting the local community and enhancing the tourism industry in Armagh and N.Ireland as a whole.
WINNER OF THE HAMILTON ARCHITECTS’ FINE ART PRINTMAKING PRIZE
Gemma Daly was awarded the Hamilton Architects’ Fine Art Printmaking Prize of £500 at the official opening of the 128th Annual Exhibition on 1 October in The Northern Bank, Donegall Street, Belfast.
Gemma’s work ‘Vertical Heights’ is ¾ Collograph (a collage of tactile and relief textures on a backing board which, when inked and printed, will exaggerate the relief and transmit it to the damp paper creating a rich and varied surface) and will be on display at the exhibition during October. This is the third year Hamilton Architects have sponsored the Royal Ulster Academy of Arts.
MORE
NEWS ....
|
