Bank Buildings
by Hall Black Douglas Architects and JCA Architects
Client Primark Stores Ltd
Award RIBA Northern Ireland Award 2024 and RIBA Northern Ireland Conservation Award 2024.
The magnificent, late Victorian, red sandstone Bank Buildings occupy a key position in Belfast city centre. Although massive in scale, their vulnerability, like all historic buildings, was exposed by a huge fire in 2018 that reduced them to an empty shell. Their restoration through an exemplary conservation project has ensured they can continue to make an important contribution to the city and its people. It also sends out a strong message in favour of retaining endangered historic buildings and in support of the fragile economy of city centres.
The architects were the central figures in this story: their experience and creativity were crucial to the project’s success, and they orchestrated a strong team. The interior structure has been rebuilt in a way that not only safeguards it from fire in the future but also offers higher standards of insulation, energy use, and accessibility.
Read the full citation from the RIBA Awards Jury on RIBA Journal.
Contractors Bennett Construction Ltd
Project Management BPS
Quantity Surveyor / Cost Consultant Linesight
Structural Engineer DBFL
Conservation Engineer ByrneLooby
Services Engineer Metec M&E
Planning Consultant Turley
Gross internal area in m² 13,556
