RICS Awards 2017, Northern Ireland, the winners

RICS Awards 2017 Northern Ireland The Winners

17

rics.org/awardsni

Contents Welcome 4 Winners Overview 5 Building Conservation

6–7

Commercial

8–9

Community Benefit

12–13

Design through Innovation

16–17

Infrastructure

18–19

Regeneration

20–21

Residential

24–25

Tourism & Leisure

26–27

Project of the Year

28–29

3

RICS Awards 2017 – The Winners

Community hub wins Project of the Year Northern Ireland Every year the RICS Awards, Northern Ireland, attract a significant number of quality entries and this year was no different. Selecting this year’s shortlist of 32 projects was a challenge as the talent, vision and exceptional skills of the professionals behind them was nothing short of remarkable.

A big thank you to all our sponsors who made the ceremony such a wonderful occasion.

It goes without saying that our judging panel found deciding upon the eight category winners particularly tough, not to mention who would take home the accolade of Project of the Year 2017, Northern Ireland. This highly-esteemed accolade is awarded to the project which demonstrates outstanding best practice, exemplary commitment to sustainability and significant benefit to local communities.

The Hub has acted as a catalyst for development of the wider Girdwood site as well as further investment in north Belfast, and is a marvellous role model for further developments of this kind.

The talent of our region’s professionals is amazing and I would like to thank all those behind the RICS Awards Northern Ireland’s shortlisted projects who took the time to enter and showcase their stunning work.

All category winners will go on to compete against other regional winners at the RICS Awards Grand Final on Thursday 2 November 2017, for the chance to be crowned the overall UK winner in their respective category. I wish them all the very best in representing Northern Ireland and showing the world just what RICS professionals within our region can accomplish.

As you turn the pages and read more about the exceptional projects, you’ll see many examples which set Northern Ireland apart from other regions as a fantastic place to live, work and of course visit.

Susan Mason Regional Services Manager Northern Ireland RICS

I’m delighted that this year’s Project of the Year Northern Ireland title went to the Girdwood Community Hub in Belfast.

The establishment of Girdwood Community Forum, which involved the local community in shaping the project to deliver what the communities needed, has succeeded in developing a state-of-the-art shared space hub offering first-class leisure, community and education facilities.

4

Sponsor the RICS Awards 2018, Northern Ireland There are a number of opportunities to sponsor next year’s awards. It is an excellent way of raising your organisation’s profile, whilst getting involved in the regions’ property Oscars.

For further information please contact the Regional Services Manager – Susan Mason +44 28 9032 2877 or email smason@rics.org

Winners overview A record number of guests attended the RICS Awards 2017, Northern Ireland, for what was a truly inspiring evening.

The awards continue to attract pioneering projects from all over the region and this year was no exception. This is a testament to local property professionals who continue to utilise their talent, providing stunning properties that set Northern Ireland apart from others regions.

Across the following pages you will see many examples of the exceptional talent and vision which make Northern Ireland a fantastic place to live, work and of course visit.

The regional category winners – Building Conservation, Commercial, Community Benefit, Design through Innovation, Infrastructure, Regeneration, Residential, Tourism & Leisure and Project of the Year – will now progress forward to the RICS Awards Grand Final on Thursday 2 November 2017 at InterContinental Hotel on Park Lane in London.

Inspiring winners The RICS Awards 2016 were full of spectacular projects – here are some Project of the Year winners:

Johnstone Town Hall, Renfrewshire, Scotland

The full list of winning projects is:

Project of the Year

Infrastructure

Girdwood Community Hub

Winner Stoneyford Integrated Constructed Wetland (ICW)

Building Conservation Winner John Bell House, Belfast

Commercial Winner Belfast Waterfront Highly Commended Novosco Office, Belfast

Community Benefit Winner The Junction, Dungannon Highly Commended Brooke Park, Derry-Londonderry

Design through Innovation Winner Main Site Tower & Peter Froggatt Centre, Queen’s University Belfast Highly Commended Arvalee School & Resource Centre, Omagh

Highly Commended A2 Shore Road, Carrickfergus to Whiteabbey

Cheltenham Racecourse, Cheltenham, South West

Regeneration Winner North Queen Street, Belfast Highly Commended Manor House, Rathlin Island

Residential Winner The Gallery, Belfast

The Curve, Middlesbrough, North East

Highly Commended Meadowvale Court, Lisburn

Tourism & Leisure Winner Bishop’s Gate Hotel, Derry-Londonderry Highly Commended NI National Football Stadium

Sponsors and supporters of the RICS Awards 2017, Northern Ireland Category Sponsors

5

The Wellcome Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine, Belfast

RICS Awards 2017 – The Winners

This award honours excellent work in the conservation of a single building or structure or a group of buildings or structures and covers renovation or conversion to a new or original use.

XXXXXXXXX

Building Conservation Winner John Bell House, Belfast Lacuna Developments / Watkins Jones Group Surveyor: Burnley Wilson Fish Architects: Hamilton Architects Developer/Contractor: O’Hare & McGovern Owner:

The John Bell House project involved the regeneration, refurbishment and extension of a Grade B+ five storey former college building into modern student accommodation. The original building, completed in 1907, was at the centre of educational and industrial development of the city for 100 years and was known to generations of Belfast students as ‘The Tech’. After lying empty for a decade, it has now been converted to address a growing requirement for student residences.

6

Sponsored by

Shortlisted Bishop’s Gate Hotel, Derry-Londonderry Nominated by Mullarkey Pedersen Architects

John Bell House, Belfast Nominated by Hamilton Architects

Enniskillen Castle Museums, Enniskillen Nominated by Hamilton Architects

St. Tida’s Church, Bellaghy Nominated by Manor Architects Ltd

Sacred Heart Church, Omagh Nominated by HMD Architects Ltd

The judges said The design team were faced with the challenge of inserting a mix of 413 modern en-suite bedroom units and studio apartments into a prominent listed building, and did so with minimal intervention to the historic fabric. So successful has this been that it is difficult at first glance to see anything other than the old building. With the use of innovative design and traditional conservation principles this building has been saved from neglect and regenerated into a living building once again.

Catch up Watch Great British Buildings: Restoration of the Year Great British Buildings: Restoration of the Year is a series on Channel 4 following RICS professionals as they judge the best restoration projects in the UK. Hosted by Kevin McCloud and Dr Anna Keay, it showcases the most incredible restorations of historic buildings.

From palaces to watermills, department stores to music halls, they unfold nine centuries of our history told through treasured places that have been brought back from the brink.

rics.org/restoration 7

RICS Awards 2017 – The Winners

This award honours an outstanding commercial property development whether retail, office, leisure, industrial or mixed use. We are looking for evidence of a commercially successful project.

Commercial Winner Belfast Waterfront, Belfast Owner: Belfast City Council Surveyor: WH Stephens Architect: Todd Architects Ltd Developer/Contractor: McLaughlin & Harvey Ltd The Belfast Waterfront extends and augments the existing Waterfront Hall, one of the city’s most iconic buildings, doubling its event space. Catering primarily for exhibitions, conferences and dinners, the venue is seen as a catalyst to increase business tourism in the city. The new accommodation, comprising major hall spaces and flexible meeting rooms, is wrapped around the existing circular form over three levels. The exterior is expressed as a low slung ‘box’ with its front face extending along the river

8

Sponsored by

Commercial Highly Commended Novosco Office, Belfast Owner: Novosco Surveyor: AECOM Architect: Blackstaff Architects Developer/Contractor: Edgar Shopfitting

Shortlisted 9 Adelaide Street, Belfast Nominated by Todd Architects Ltd

Bishop’s Gate Hotel, Derry-Londonderry Nominated by Mullarkey Pedersen Architects

NI National Football Stadium, Belfast Nominated by Hamilton Architects

Belfast Waterfront Hall, Belfast Nominated by Todd Architects Ltd

Bloc Blinds, Magherafelt Nominated by Manor Architects Ltd

Novosco Office, Belfast Nominated by Blackstaff Architects

The judges said A complex and demanding scheme with the main client establishing high expectations of this finely built extension to an existing structure abutting Belfast’s riverside. Although built to a cost of £29.5m, in its first six months of operation the facility delivered 15 major conferences, including 16,540 delegate days, generating an economic impact for the city of £9.5m – a figure which is anticipated will rise to £45m by 2020/21 when the venue reaches its full potential. This is indeed a worthy public investment giving benefit to many and well deserving of its BREEAM “Excellent” rating.

9

Sika-Trocal®

PIONEERS OF LIQUID ROOF WATERPROOFING SYSTEMS

PROVEN PERFORMANCE FOR OVER 50 YEARS

THE FLEXIBLE DESIGN CHOICE

THINK BIM... THINK SIKA Contact our Roofing Technical Team today for Design, Specification and Survey assistance

t: 028 9336 5868 (NI) / 003531 862 0709 (ROI) www.sika.ie @SikaIreland

RICS Awards 2017 – The Winners

This award recognises excellent achievement in providing a facility which directly benefits the local community. In particular, the project must illustrate its success through local community feedback. Projects may be single or groups of buildings in urban, rural or coastal areas. They may be new or improvements to existing facilities.

Community Benefit Winner The Junction, Dungannon Owner/client: STEP Surveyor: VB Evans & Co Architect: Hall Black Douglas Developer/Contractor: QMAC The Junction is a new landmark building located on a community interface, serving diverse communities in the Dungannon area. It creates high quality shared space for communities to gather together, access key community support services and attend voluntary and educational groups. It provides a wide range of meeting spaces and a place where everybody in the community can feel ‘at home’. Its key tenants are Inspire Mental Health, Willowfield Disability Support and STEP Community Development

12

Sponsored by

Community Benefit Highly Commended Brooke Park, Derry-Londonderry Derry City & Strabane District Council Surveyor: Sammon Chartered Surveyors Architect: Hamilton Architects/ MWA Partnership Ltd Developer/Contractor: Woodvale Construction Company Owner:

Shortlisted Arvalee School and Resource Centre, Omagh Nominated by Woodvale Construction Company Ltd

Government Services Office, Strabane Nominated by Glasgiven Contracts Ltd

NI Ambulance Service, Divisional HQ & Regional Station, Ballymena Nominated by Glasgiven Contracts Ltd

Banbridge Health and Care Centre, Co. Down Nominated by Kennedy FitzGerald Architects in Association with Avanti Architects

Lisnaskea Library, Fermanagh Nominated by Woodvale Construction Company Ltd

The Junction, Dungannon Nominated by Hall Black Douglas

Brooke Park, Derry-Londonderry Nominated by Sammon Chartered Surveyors

New Adult Hospice, Belfast Nominated by Consarc Design Group Ltd

Valley Park V36 Project, Newtownabbey Nominated by Edmond Shipway Belfast

Girdwood Community Hub, Belfast Nominated by Belfast City Council

The judges said Located on a community interface and the derelict site of the former railway goods shed, The Junction serves diverse communities in the Dungannon area. It provides a high quality multi-use, flexible space for communities to gather together, to access support services and attend voluntary and educational groups. Facilities include extensive meeting spaces, from one to one counselling rooms to high quality conferencing facilities serving 300+ which have attracted international recognition. It is a place where all can truly feel at home.

13

Spot the difference?

Not easy is it?

Two virtually identical sections from the Kooltherm® K-Range of rigid thermoset insulation materials.

Except the one on the left is the latest evolution in Kooltherm® design, boasting the lowest Lambda rating on the market today. But the board itself isn’t a single millimetre thicker than before.

They say there’s a fine line between good and great. Our promise is we’ll never stop trying to find it.

kingspaninsulation.ie/innovation

Tessera Seagrass 3203 oyster, Tessera Seagrass 3224 dandelion & Allura Flex Seagrass 1644 oyster www.forbo-flooring.co.uk/tesseraseagrass Sample orders: 0800 731 2369

creating better environments

RICS Awards 2017 – The Winners

This award honours the use of outstanding innovation in designing a successful project. The Judges will look for evidence that use of creativity and innovative design have enhanced a project across a wide range of criteria.

Design through Innovation Winner Main Site Tower & Peter Froggatt Centre, Queen’s University Belfast Queen’s University Belfast Surveyor: Hood McGowan Kirk Architect: Todd Architects Ltd Developer/Contractor: Felix O’Hare & Co Ltd Owner/Client:

Queen’s University have transformed the northern section of their main campus. At its heart is the refurbishment of the Main Site Tower and Peter Froggatt Centre, two 1960’s buildings. The scheme knits new and old to create a contemporary teaching and learning environment. Design innovation was critical in working with restricted floor heights to ensure successful integration of structure, services and fabric. Externally the buildings were refaced in a manner that allows them to sit comfortably in their historic setting.

16

Sponsored by

Design through Innovation Highly Commended Arvalee School & Resource Centre, Omagh Department of Education Northern Ireland Surveyor: Moore McDonald & Partners Architect: Isherwood and Ellis Developer/Contractor: Woodvale Construction Company Ltd Owner:

Shortlisted Arvalee School and Resource Centre, Omagh Nominated by Woodvale Construction Company Ltd

Main Site Tower & Peter Froggatt Centre, Queen’s University, Belfast Nominated by Todd Architects Ltd

Novosco office, Belfast Nominated by Blackstaff Architects

Girdwood Community Hub, Belfast Nominated by Belfast City Council

The judges said The old multi storey tower was stripped back to its frame and several floors removed.

A steel frame was attached to the outside and brickwork, glazed screens and bronzed anodised panels were used as external materials. Atria were provided in the centre of the building by cutting out sections of floors. Innovative design involved the use of BIM and meeting BREEAM excellent standards, mainly through energy efficiency and ventilation.

The reconstructed building was successfully linked to an adjacent refurbished building and a historic tower, all within the remarkable setting of the University’s central quad.

Innovation was also demonstrated in off-site fabrication and dry construction techniques required to meet the needs of the university calendar.

17

RICS Awards 2017 – The Winners

This award will recognise the excellent achievement by a project or programme of infrastructure works. Infrastructure works include any projects that deliver essential facilities, services or organisational structures.

Infrastructure Winner Stoneyford Integrated Constructed Wetland (ICW) Northern Ireland Water Surveyor: WYG Architect: VESI Environmental Ltd Developer/Contractor: BSG Civil Engineering Ltd Owner/Client:

This flagship project for Northern Ireland Water provides a sustainable, environmentally-friendly replacement for the overloaded wastewater treatment works serving the village of Stoneyford.

The Integrated Constructed Wetland uses a natural ecosystem to break down and treat pollutants providing significant environmental and ecological benefits, low operational and maintenance requirements and costs. Since construction, the facility has matured into a lush, biodiverse habitat now recognised as an industry leading example of how to integrate wastewater treatment into a local indigenous ecosystem.

18

Infrastructure Highly Commended A2 Shore Road, Carrickfergus to Whiteabbey Owner/Client: Transport NI Developer/Contractor: John Graham Construction Ltd

Shortlisted A2 Shore Road, Carrickfergus Nominated by John Graham Construction Ltd

Girdwood Community Hub, Belfast Nominated by Belfast City Council

Stoneyford Integrated Constructed Wetland (ICW), Co Antrim Nominated by WYG

Banbridge Health and Care Centre, County Down Nominated by Kennedy FitzGerald Architects in Association with Avanti Architects

The judges said This flagship project provides a sustainable, environmentally-friendly replacement for the overloaded wastewater treatment works serving the village of Stoneyford. Although with only a population 1000 people, the principles established from this very successful scheme will be replicated elsewhere. The judges were particularly impressed with its fresh sustainable approach and partnerships with local universities ensuring maximum learning outputs to shape further similar projects. The development team established a dialogue with the local community at a very early stage to overcome concern and secured a “Green Apple� environment award in 2015 for enhancement of the local ecosystem.

19

RICS Awards 2017 – The Winners

This award honours exceptional improvements to urban, rural or coastal areas. We are looking for evidence to show that the scheme has conserved or improved the built or natural environment in a way that has contributed to the viability of the area.

Regeneration Winner North Queen Street, Belfast Apex Housing Association (acting on behalf of Newington Housing Association) Surveyor: VB Evans & Co Architect Knox & Clayton Architects Developer/Contractor Donaghmore Construction Ltd Owner/Client:

The site of the former PSNI Station at North Queen Street has been completely revitalised by the building of 26 social houses on behalf of Newington Housing Association.

The scheme, comprising a mix of 2 & 3 bedroom homes, has transformed what was previously a volatile geographical trouble spot into a peaceful sanctuary for those now resident there. New shared space, parking & a tree-lined boulevard further enhance the built environment.

20

Sponsored by

Regeneration Highly Commended Manor House, Rathlin Island Rathlin Development & Community Association (RDCA) Architect: Donnelly O’Neill Architects Developer/Contractor: Cleary Contracting Ltd Owner/Client:

Shortlisted Bishop’s Gate Hotel, Derry-Londonderry Nominated by Mullarkey Pedersen Architects

Felden, Newtownabbey Nominated by Clanmil Housing Group

Bloc Blind Campus, Magherafelt Nominated by Manor Architects Ltd

Forthriver Innovation Factory, Belfast Nominated by Turner & Townsend

Brooke Park, Derry-Londonderry Nominated by Sammon Chartered Surveyors/Hamilton Architects

Girdwood Community Hub, Belfast Nominated by Belfast City Council

Manor House, Rathlin Island Nominated by Department for Infrastructure/RDCA North Queen Street, Belfast Nominated by Donaghmore Construction Ltd

The judges said This former police station had lain derelict for many years when it was acquired by Newington Housing Association for 26 two and three bedroom social houses at a cost of £3.3m. Despite difficult ground conditions, contamination and proximity to a motorway, a high quality scheme has been completed and occupied, one which reflects the historic street pattern and the proximity of the listed Clifton House. Before and during construction intense community engagement was undertaken and the contractors employed some local long term unemployed people to work on the project.

21

PROJECT MANAGEMENT & TECHNICAL CONSULTANCY Helping clients create value, protect value and manage risk T: +44(0)113 278 7111 E: info@wyg.com

www.wyg.com

@wyggroup

wyg-group

Grand Final 2 November 2017 12:00hrs–16:00hrs Intercontinental London Park Lane, One Hamilton Place, Park Lane, London W1J 7QY Hosted by: Dan Walker, BBC Breakfast News and Sport Anchor

rics.org/awardsgrandfinal

RICS Awards 2017 – The Winners

This award honours an outstanding residential development of either a single building or overall scheme, either new build or conversion. We are looking for evidence of a successful project across a wide range of criteria.

Residential Winner The Gallery, Belfast Richland Group Ltd Johnston Houston Clarke and Whiteman Architects Developer/Contractor: May Estates Owner/Client: Surveyor: Architect:

This mixed use scheme has a Coffee House on the ground floor and 58 apartments on the eight floors above, giving Belfast, its first ‘Compact Luxury’ apartment scheme. The Gallery is a realisation of the client’s vision to create an affordable, landmark building with a car free solution to inner city living that acknowledges its civic responsibility and truly addresses communal living with its Coffee House acting as a “large front room” for people to meet and congregate.

24

Regeneration Highly Commended Meadowvale Court, Lisburn Triangle Housing Association Surveyor: AG Crawford & Co Architect: JNP Architects Developer/Contractor: Donaghmore Construction Ltd Owner/Client:

Shortlisted English Street, Downpatrick Nominated by Clanmil Housing Group

Rathgill, Bangor, County Down Nominated by Fold Housing Association

The Gallery, Belfast Nominated by Clarke & Whiteman Architects

Meadowvale Court, Lisburn Nominated by Donaghmore Construction Ltd

The judges said This city centre residential development appears to have genuinely excited agents as much as purchasers in its short marketing period. Its novelty of size and simplicity of layout matched with its affordability and style will be replicated in the future. Sold as “modern living in the city centre”, without car parking but instead a discount bicycle voucher and safe cycle storage. With a “top to toe” quality finish, the scheme represents a clear vision executed with panache and a firm grasp of the bottom line. It works from all perspectives and makes a strong contribution to the regeneration of Belfast, bringing people back to city centre living.

25

RICS Awards 2017 – The Winners

This award honours projects that make an outstanding contribution to tourism and leisure facilities in the region or their locality.

Tourism & Leisure Winner Bishop’s Gate Hotel, Derry-Londonderry Inner City Building Preservation Trust Architect: Mullarkey Pedersen Architects Developer/Contractor: Conway Builders Owner:

Bishop’s Gate Hotel has greatly enhanced Derry’s tourism and hospitality product.

Since it opened in March 2016 the restored building has attracted thousands of visitors, many coming to finally ‘get inside’ the landmark building which had been off limits for so long. The hotel has bucked the trend for smaller, start-up businesses in the tourism sector, winning “Hideaway of the Year 2017” and taking second place in the entire UK in the coveted TripAdvisor ‘Travellers’ Choice.

Award.

26

Tourism & Leisure Highly Commended NI National Football Stadium, Belfast Irish Football Association Surveyor: Edmond Shipway Architect: Hamilton Architects Developer/Contractor: O’Hare & McGovern Owner/Client:

Shortlisted Belfast Waterfront Hall, Belfast Nominated by TODD Architects Ltd

Enniskillen Castle Museums, Enniskillen Nominated by Hamilton Architects

NI National Football Stadium, Belfast Nominated by Hamilton Architects

Bishop’s Gate Hotel, Derry-Londonderry Nominated by Mullarkey Pedersen Architects

Manor House, Rathlin Island Nominated by Department for Infrastructure/RDCA

Portrush West Bay Promenade, Co Antrim Nominated by WYG

The judges said This B1 Listed Building located within the Historic Derry City Conservation Area dates from the late 19th century. For over 170 years it has been an integral part of the social, commercial and political fabric of the city, serving as mess headquarters for army officers in both World Wars. As a gentlemen’s club the building has hosted notable figures such as Winston Churchill, Edward Carson and W.B Yeats. Now a 31 bedroom boutique hotel Bishop’s Gate has won many industry awards within its first twelve months of opening.

Previously known as ‘The Northern Counties Club’ which revolved its door for the first time in 1893, that same door that has been lovingly restored and is revolving today.

27

RICS Awards 2017 – The Winners

This award is presented to the project which has been judged overall as an excellent example of best practice by professionals working in both the built and natural environments.

Project of the Year Winner Girdwood Community Hub, Belfast Belfast City Council VB Evans & Co Michael Whitely Architects Developer/Contractor: O’Hare and McGovern Owner/client: Surveyor: Architect:

In 2012, Belfast City Council launched an ambitious £150m Investment Programme to counter the effects of the wider economic downturn on the city. To succeed, it was recognised early in the process that the programme needed to reach communities across the city to make a difference to the lives of local people.

Girdwood is located beside some of the most deprived wards in Northern Ireland, with the area affected by high levels of poor health, low educational attainment, high unemployment, low mobility and violence. The area also has a high number of interfaces/peace lines. Of 88 interface barriers in the city, 49 are located in the

28

north of the city. These factors fuelled the vision to create not just a leisure or community centre but a shared, vibrant and safe space which contributes to the ongoing process of peace and reconciliation in North Belfast.

Girdwood is a former Army Barracks site.

Sitting on 14 acres, it is one of the biggest regeneration sites in Belfast. For years, the site was derelict, offering no prospects to residents in the adjoining communities.

Located in one of the most volatile areas of the city, most affected by the conflict and continuing to deal with the legacies of division, it was a powerful and disheartening symbol of the past.

Construction of the Hub was the catalyst for the development of the wider site and for further investment in North Belfast in the future.

The success of the Hub Project has been driven by support from and engagement with local communities, which ensured the project was tailored to their needs. To achieve this, Belfast City Council established Girdwood Community Hub Forum in 2010, with 24 representatives from the community, voluntary and statutory sector. Its role was to maximise the engagement of local communities in the development of the Hub and the design, programming and management of the wider site. Three Forum members sat on the ‘Girdwood Project Board’ and

helped shape and influence decision making at a senior government level about the direction of the Project.

A dynamic relationship continues to exist between the council and local communities represented on the Forum, which has been a notable success story from the Girdwood project. This is now used as a model of good practice in the development of other capital projects.

A number of Forum sub-groups focus on a range of issues, including community engagement, social clauses and community benefits, children and young people and community aspiration, to manage the facility. Positive relationships needed to be built before more contentious and diverse issues could be explored, and differences of opinion over what the site should be used for could be addressed.

Community representatives recognise the regeneration potential and the community benefits both available by engaging with the Hub’s continued development and service delivery. This work will help transform the image of North Belfast and, working with Belfast City Council and other government agencies, deliver a thriving shared gateway into the North of the city.

Meanwhile, the council supported wider engagement through regular distribution of community newsletters and community

events programme to support the opening.

There were a number of design changes following consultation from the Forum - for example, the inclusion a dedicated shared youth space. Through the Forum, the council put in place a community engagement plan containing a raft of cross-community events and workshops.

These included community fun days, held on a grassed area to the front of the site.

These were initially managed by the council but are now handled by the community.

Workshops to inform the social clauses included in the construction contract have allowed the community to have its say on the wider development of the site until funding is secured for a new indoor sports facility, business units and additional housing in the area. Courses are provided by the Hub’s anchor tenant, Belfast Metropolitan College, to address educational attainment and support local people to return to the work environment.

Symbolically, three physical interface barriers which surrounded the site were removed during construction, underlining the commitment to creating a communityled development that looks to the future and aids the ongoing work to bring peace and reconciliation to North Belfast.

The judges said Few in Belfast believed the Girdwood Community Hub would ever materialise. The site of a former British Army base surrounded by communities separated by decades of sectarianism and paramilitary control had been earmarked for housing. But rival groups prevented the project which might see a majority of Protestants or Catholics in the area ever seeing daylight. When Belfast City Council stepped in with the ambitious crosscommunity hub concept, it seemed a noble but impossible idea. Yet in two years since opening it is in full use by all communities. It has opened previously blockaded streets and peace walls and has created a positive ripple-effect, impacting the built environment dramatically and positively.

29

RICS Matrics

Young Surveyor of the Year 2017 Are you a high flier in land, real estate, construction and infrastructure?

Or know someone that is?

Celebrating the most inspirational young surveying professionals in the UK Categories are: ∫ ∫ ∫ ∫ ∫ ∫ ∫ ∫ ∫

Apprentice of the Year (new for 2017) Asset and Facilities Management Building Surveying Land (Rural and Urban) Mentor of the Year Property (Residential & Commercial) Project Management Quantity Surveying Valuation

Closing date for entries – 14 July 2017 *Open to all young surveyors, trainees and apprentices aged under 35.

Want to be Young Surveyor of the Year 2017? Nominate or enter now – rics.org/ysoya

18 Call for entries!

The RICS Awards celebrate excellence in the built environment and showcase the talent of property professionals behind the most ground breaking projects.

All finalists will enjoy unparalleled public recognition at one of the industry’s most prestigious annual events.

All regional winners will go forward to the Grand Final in October 2018.

Entry to the Awards is open to everyone, not just those working within the property profession.

For more information visit rics.org/awards or contact Carolyn Robins RICS UK Awards Manager on + 44 7791 750142 or email crobins@rics.org Entries open in September 2017

rics.org/awards

7

rics.org/awardsni