Victoria Square Shopping Centre

Victoria Square

Victoria Square completed in March 2008
Location Belfast, Northern Ireland
Coordinates 54°35′54″N 5°55′31″W / 54.5983°N 5.9253°W / 54.5983; -5.9253
Opening date 6 March 2008
Developer Multi Development UK
No. of stores and services 98
No. of anchor tenants 1
Total retail floor area 75,000 m2 (810,000 sq ft)
No. of floors 4
Parking 1000
Website www.victoriasquare.com

Victoria Square is a high end commercial, residential and leisure development in Belfast, Northern Ireland developed and built by Multi Development UK over 6 years. At approx 800,000 ft² (75,000m²) and costing £400m it is the biggest and one of the most expensive property developments ever undertaken in Northern Ireland. It opened on 6 March 2008. Its anchor tenant at nearly 200,000 ft² (18,581m²) is the largest House of Fraser that the retailer has opened in the UK.

Design

Victoria Square Main Atrium 2010

A key element in the development is two covered, multi-level streets linked to the massive glass dome measuring 35 m in diameter. A public square covered entirely by the glass dome serves as the hub of the entire area. The ornate Jaffe Fountain, constructed in the 1870s by former Lord Mayor Otto Jaffe in memory of his father, has been restored to its original location in Victoria Square. Victoria Square is a neighbourhood consisting of 17 contextual different buildings. Pedestrian links to nearby business, nightlife and shopping streets on Laganside, Donegall Place, Royal Avenue and Ann Street. Victoria Square includes a wide variety of shops for males, females and children as well as a wonderful 80 ft viewing area. Victoria Square was developed by Multi Development UK Ltd in co-operation with T+T Design. The Architects are Building Design Partnership and T+T Design, the in house architects of Multi Corporation.[1]

Sustainability

Construction of Victoria Square development August 2007

In employment terms, over 3,000 people were involved in the construction phase of Victoria Square, with a further 3,000 people gaining employment in the scheme through jobs in retail, security and the service industries. Environmentally, a large section of the roof has been covered in Sedum in a direct attempt to reduce the carbon footprint of Victoria Square. This material soaks up rainwater allowing it to evaporate naturally over time rather than overload draining systems.

Victoria Square is the largest ever retail-led regeneration scheme to open in Northern Ireland, covering 1.8 hectares. Multi Development UK was appointed Department for Social Development's development partner in 2000. The scheme was granted outline-planning approval in 2002. Multi Corporation sold Victoria Square to Commerz Real in 2004. Today Victoria Square is valued at over £400m. Construction commenced in April 2004 and lasted 46 months to completion and were overseen by local joint venture contractors Farrans and Gilbert Ash. Sedum roof installed by BBS Green Roofing.

Key facts

Rail Access

See also

References

  1. ↑ World Architecture. "Victoria Square Belfast : Building". E-architect.co.uk. Retrieved 4 March 2009.
  2. ↑ Q Park. "Belfast Victoria Square". Retrieved 12 May 2011.
  3. ↑ Belfast Telegraph. "Victoria Square apartments sell out". Retrieved 14 May 2011.
  4. ↑ Victoria Square. "Victoria Square Store Directory". Retrieved 11 May 2011.
  5. ↑ "Belfast: Explosion at Victoria Square Centre". Belfast, Northern Ireland. Sky News. 2013-11-25. Retrieved 2013-12-31.
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Coordinates: 54°35′54″N 5°55′31″W / 54.5983°N 5.9253°W / 54.5983; -5.9253

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