PROJECT
TEMPLEMORE BATHS, BELFAST
designers have done an excellent job getting the original building functioning while maintaining its characteristics and blending it with the new extension,” stated Site Manager Diarmuid Mullan. “They used a lot of glass to link the two buildings. There are nice subtle changes in the fabric that welcome you into the new area, to make the two separate buildings read as one. It was a nice approach.” A LEARNING EXPERIENCE Amidst the general skills shortage in the sector in NI and with two sites running side by side, many of the tradespeople recruited for the job had to work on both buildings. Templemore Baths was the first heritage project for some of the sub-contractors, so Heron Bros promoted on-site training about old masonry methods and carpentry to restore old windows and doors, for example. “The people we trained on-site have actually moved on to do other restoration works,” Diarmuid
commented. “There was a mixture of ages, and have made this new career choice.” Learning more about restoration also instilled a sense of pride in everyone who took part in the project. “Even the guys who, at the start, said ‘What are we fixing this old building for? They should knock it down,’ at the end were completely converted,” John explained. SENSE OF COMMUNITY The Templemore Baths site is enclosed by roads filled with terraced houses, so the team had to be especially considerate of the local community. “People would visit the site or stop us on the street and say, ‘I learned to swim in Templemore`, so they also felt they had ownership of the building,” Diarmuid commented. “Everyone was really complimentary because they didn’t think so much of the original fabric would have been saved,” he added. The fact that both buildings will
continue to be enjoyed by the local community was a huge point of pride for the Heron Bros team. “We all have extensive experience in heritage projects, but this one we will definitely bring our children and grandchildren to see,” John commented. “It has been an absolutely fantastic project to put our name to, with the added sense of satisfaction that we have restored an important part of Belfast’s history.” Client: Belfast City Council Main Contractor: Heron Bros Architects and Design Team Lead: McAdam Conservation Architect: Consarc Mechanical and Electrical Contractors: NUGENT PROJECT TEAM...
Civil and Structural Engineers: TetraTech
2-8 St Patricks St, Draperstown, Magherafelt BT45 7AL T: +44 (0)28 7962 8505 - E: info@heronbros.com www.heronbros.com
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