NEWS
GT3 Architects, a UK practice with studios in Newcastle upon Tyne, Nottingham and London, has opened a studio in Belfast. Located in a co-working space in the city centre, the Belfast studio will offer workplace and interior design while also bringing a new sport and leisure specialism into the NI architecture scene. Leading the new location are senior architects Darren Breslin and Damien Graham, a long-standing duo and the driving force behind GT3’s expansion into the region. Damien, who is from Northern Ireland, has worked almost exclusively in sport and leisure architecture and is passionate about its long- term community value. Darren brings wide-ranging design experience from across the UK and Ireland, leading multi-use urban regeneration schemes such as the Guinness Quarter in Dublin and developing GT3’s expertise in emerging technologies such as AI. GT3 has increased its team by more than 20% over the past year. www.gt3architects.com GT3 Architects opens Belfast studio
L-R: Martin O’Kane, Heron Bros/Construction Futures Board, Economy Minister Dr Caoimhe Archibald and Fionnuala McKenna, Construction Futures.
DfE backs Open Doors 2026
Economy Minister Dr Caoimhe Archibald has visited the Dundonald International Ice Bowl regeneration site to mark the launch of Open Doors 2026. Delivered by Build UK in partnership with Construction Futures in Northern Ireland, Open Doors will run from March 23 to 28, offering strictly pre-booked, behind- the-scenes visits to live construction sites, manufacturing facilities, builders’ merchants and training centres. The Department for the Economy has joined Construction Futures as a key partner for Open Doors in NI. Through
its Careers Service, the Department is encouraging people of all ages to consider construction as a modern, inclusive and future-focused career choice. NI’s first Open Doors week in March 2025 welcomed more than 500 visitors to over 35 events across 18 locations. The latest CITB Construction Workforce Outlook estimates that the industry needs to recruit around 5,000 additional workers in NI by 2029. www.constructionfuturesni.com/open- doors-live-bookings
CEF calls for four-year budget
CEF is calling on the NI Executive to immediately agree a four-year budget for capital spending, as stagnating profit margins and inflationary concerns dent construction sector confidence.
Following the publication of Finance Minister John O’Dowd’s Draft Budget 2026-2029/30, Chief Executive Mark Spence said it fell short of what CEF would see as a baseline requirement and requires urgent clarity from all Executive parties. “While the early earmarking of RRI funding for NI Water and newbuild social housing is an important step, the £433m for water and wastewater infrastructure specifically falls some £1.36bn short of the indicative funding required,” said Mark. CEF is calling on ministers to act on industry proposals for a low-cost Infrastructure Levy, which it says would deal with the principal inhibitor to economic growth in NI. Consultation on the Draft Budget closed on March 3 with the aim of securing Executive agreement on a final budget plan by April 1. www.cefni.co.uk
L-R: Darren Breslin, Project Architect, Simon Dunstan, Director, and Damien Graham, Senior Architect.
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