Hackett + Hall's concept for Belfast's new Art Centre

On behalf of the Old Museum Arts Centre (OMAC) the RIBA has announced that the Belfast-based practice Hackett + Hall has won the competition to design a new  £11.8m purpose built Arts Centre in Belfast, Northern Ireland.

A two stage open competition was launched in February this year and 44 concept designs were submitted.  From the anonymous first stage five practices were short-listed to further develop their concepts into a second stage.  These teams were:
- Arts Team
- Cameron Webster
- Hackett + Hall
- Keppie Design
- Markland Klaschka

Anne McReynolds, OMAC Project Director commented, "The judging panel unanimously selected Hackett + Hall as our preferred team for a number of reasons.  As a practice Hackett + Hall embody the OMAC ethos of international excellence combined with the development of local creative talent.  Their undeniable commitment to our project combined with their obvious ability to create wonderful architecture and buildings that work made them an unbeatable team.  The strength of their proposed scheme is evident in terms of aesthetics and functionality as well as in cost and deliverability criteria.  The fact that they are a Belfast-based practice was an added bonus. I very much look forward to working with Hackett + Hall on developing this landmark cultural for Belfast and Northern Ireland."

Gareth Hoskins, RIBA Adviser commented, "Hackett + Hall's proposals draw on a considered understanding of the City within which they are working to create a building that is an evocative analogy of Belfast's streets and surrounding landscape - an architectural landscape that provides OMAC with a rich variety of spaces for audiences and artists and the potential to create a unique home and destination within the City for their inventive programme of arts."

OMAC[2] will be a new arts centre for the artists and audiences in Belfast and throughout Northern Ireland. It will be owned and managed by the Old Museum arts centre (OMAC) and will be used by many cultural and community-based partners.

For more information on RIBA competitions visit www.architecture.com

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