PROJECT PROFILE
SEAMUS HEANEY CENTRE, QUEEN’S UNIVERSITY BELFAST
AS MAIN CONTRACTOR FOR QUEEN’S UNIVERSITY BELFAST’S NEW £4.9M SEAMUS HEANEY CENTRE, GEDA PRESERVED THE HERITAGE OF TWO LISTED BUILDINGS WHILE UPGRADING THE SITE TO MEET MODERN STANDARDS… CREATING A PLACE OF POETIC INSPIRATION
Transforming two Grade II-listed buildings into Queen’s new £4.9m Seamus Heaney Centre has proved both a challenging and rewarding experience for its main contractor. Dungannon-based GEDA Construction is well versed in handling projects of all sizes and complexity and pushing the boundaries of engineering and construction. Yet refurbishing the site, located close to Queen’s iconic Lanyon building, put its skills to the test and required high levels of innovation, collaboration and attention to detail. The effort has paid off, with the refurbishment transforming the Seamus Heaney Centre into a vibrant, modern space enhancing the educational experience with an inspiring environment for students and staff.
The refurbished site occupies buildings at 38-40 University Road and 3 Mount Charles. Spanning 1,000sqm, it doubles the size of the original centre founded in 2004 and opened by the acclaimed poet himself. Northern Irish author Professor Glenn Patterson has been director of the Centre since 2017, which is part of the School of Arts, English and Languages at Queen’s. The new building includes a public exhibition area which displays the University’s Seamus Heaney archive, an expanded poetry library, large venue space, teaching rooms, academic offices and two scriptoriums with individual workstations for up to 30 students. Eddie Murnin, Associate Director of Construction at GEDA, said, “The Seamus Heaney Centre is not just a building, it’s a cultural landmark dedicated to one of
Ireland’s most revered poets. “Refurbishing such a historically- significant listed building required a sensitive and respectful approach, preserving its heritage while upgrading it to meet modern standards.” The project demanded meticulous attention to detail and adherence to strict regulations, with GEDA ensuring the architectural integrity and historical elements were preserved while seamlessly integrating modern amenities. “The success of this project was a result of close collaboration with Queen’s University, Gleeds, Michael Whitley Architects, Williams & Shaw, Doran Consulting and other stakeholders,” said Eddie. “Our ability to work effectively with various parties ensured that the refurbishment met the
“Refurbishing such a historically-significant listed building required a sensitive and respectful approach.”
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