Visitor & Conference Centre

Crumlin Road Gaol

Hamilton Architects undertook significant repair and refurbishment work to the Grade A Listed Gatehouse and Administration Building at Crumlin Road Gaol to provide an impressive new Visitor Attraction and Conference Centre. The Gaol, built in the mid-19th century to a design by celebrated architect Sir Charles Lanyon, is one of Belfast’s most unique historic buildings. In its day, it represented the most advanced ideas on penal planning, being the first in Ireland - and one of the earliest in the British Isles - built on the radial cellular plan. In the course of our research, we discovered original Lanyon drawings for the roof of the Gatehouse which enabled us to reinstate the roof to the original design. In line with good conservation practice, a policy of minimum intervention was implemented with most of the building fabric and materials conserved or substantially reused and best practice observed within each trade/craft to maintain the building’s integrity. While we undid alterations that were harmful to the building fabric, others were retained for their historic significance on the premise of minimum intervention and reversibility in accommodating new uses.

Awards:

• RICS Awards Project of the Year and Community Benefit Winner • RICS Awards Building Conservation – Highly Commended • William Keown Trust Access Award