Plans have been submitted for a rooftop running track as part of the restoration of a stunning Victorian red-brick on Royal Avenue.
The Sixth, as it is now known, is attracting firms that are “placing a premium on employee satisfaction”, according to the developers. The £75 million regeneration of the old Belfast Telegraph building will see “user well-being” at its heart as well as 230,000 square feet of workspace across seven floors, with a public atrium and walkway on the ground floor, alongside retail outlets.
Stephen Surphlis, speaking on behalf of Bel Tel LLP, said: “Offices and workspace are evolving and UK and international companies are looking to Belfast and the wealth of talent we have on tap from our universities and within our professional, creative and technology sectors.
“These firms are placing a premium on employee satisfaction and are seeking working environments that facilitate team interaction, innovation and creativity. Our plans for The Sixth emphasise quality, heritage-led design that makes a contribution to both user wellbeing, and the fabric of our city.
“We’ve engaged world-class architects, Allford Hall Monaghan Morris (AHMM), winner of the 2015 RIBA Stirling Prize and most recently voted Architectural Practice of the Year 2018 by Architects Journal to deliver a unique building that will have a transformative effect on Belfast, by attracting end occupiers who will deliver up to 2,000 high-value jobs.”
Paul Monaghan founding director of AHMM, added: “The Sixth is a bold project, focused on the experience of its users and mindful of the site’s landmark status and importance as part of Belfast’s built heritage. We have taken cues from the surrounding buildings and the city’s lost Victorian arcades, and will restore features removed or lost from the original listed building. For example, we’re planning to reinstate the building’s main access onto Royal Avenue and re-introduce dormer windows removed from the original roofline.
“New features such as the roof top running track, roof top terraces and break out spaces compliment the building’s focus on the user. A new public atrium space serves as walkway through the building, which alongside a range of ground floor retail and food and beverage offers will enliven the street level space around Royal Avenue and Donegall Street. The Sixth will contribute to the rapid regeneration of the area and with its close proximity to Ulster University; it will be at the centre of an emerging creative district serving the education, culture, media and technology sectors.
“The Sixth’s design development has been informed by productive discussion and constructive feedback from Belfast City Council Planning Service, Historic Environment Division and other statutory consultees over the past 12 months. We have also been heartened to receive very positive feedback from the public, local business and residents during the pre-application community consultation, and this is reflected in the detail of the application we’ve submitted.”
A full planning application and associated listed building consent on behalf of Bel Tel LLP was submitted by national planning and development consultancy Turley to Belfast City Council and subject to planning approval, work is expected to begin in late 2018.
The Sixth’s project name was inspired by “Sixth Late Tele”, the call of the newspaper’s street vendors when selling the evening edition, which for more than a century was a familiar cry throughout Belfast.
