RSUA NEWS
L-R: Ciarán Fox, RSUA Director, Peter Hutchinson and Ciaran McConnell, RSUA Honorary Members, and John Lavery, RSUA President (photo credit: Kelvin Boyes, Press Eye Photography).
The entrance to the Former Good Shepherd Convent lit up for Architecture Night 2025 (photo credit: Kelvin Boyes, Press Eye Photography).
JP CORRY MANAGING DIRECTOR CIARAN MCCONNELL WAS NAMED AN HONORARY MEMBER OF RSUA, WITH THE EVENT ALSO FEATURING AWARDS FOR STUDENTS AND EARLY-CAREER ARCHITECTS… Former Belfast convent hosts Architecture Night celebration of design
The former Good Shepherd Convent on Belfast’s Ormeau Road was reanimated for Architecture Night 2025, hosted by the Royal Society of Ulster Architects (RSUA) on October 17. RSUA hosts the annual event to shine a light on buildings that are not currently in use, choosing a new venue each year for its architectural interest or link to an issue affecting the built environment sector in Northern Ireland. Some 300 guests gathered in the B1-listed building designed by Dublin architect William Henry Byrne. The building was purchased by Choice Housing Association in 2019 and is currently on the market for just over £2m. Ciarán Fox, RSUA Director, said, “It’s been great to see a renewed interest in our existing building stock, with so many great examples of reuse projects bringing new life to historic buildings. It’s vital that government continues to support this momentum for a sustainable future.” JP Corry Managing Director Ciaran McConnell was the first of two new honorary members to be announced. “Ciaran is a friend to RSUA, a man who
makes things happen, who backs new ideas and a man who wants to see architecture flourish in Northern Ireland,” said the RSUA Director, “and he does it all with a genuine courtesy, trust and decency.” Landscape architect, illustrator and designer Peter Hutchinson was the second person recognised as an honorary member for his contribution to the sector. John Lavery, RSUA President, said, “From designing the first pedestrian precinct outside Belfast in 1981 with the delivery of the Bow Street Mall pedestrianisation in Lisburn right through to the designs for the Hill of the O’Neill in Dungannon in 2012, Peter has been a champion for design excellence.” The event also saw recognition for the best of the next generation of architectural talent. The six best undergraduates and six best postgraduates from Queen’s University and Ulster University were showcased in the venue. Hannah Jackson from Queen’s University won the Bronze Medal for best undergraduate student. Hannah’s project
proposed an ecological monitoring centre and community hub on Rathlin Island that would eventually be reclaimed by rising sea levels and evolve into a new marine habitat that supports the diverse ecosystem. Ryan McCracken from Queen’s University was awarded the Silver Medal for best postgraduate student. Ryan’s thesis presented a case for the re-imagining of tower blocks at New Lodge in Belfast, using examples of carbon cost-effective adaptive reuse and community-led regeneration to challenge the systemic demolition of social housing. Architecture Night 2025 also marked the announcement of the winner of The Water Canon design competition, a collaboration between RSUA and JP Corry. Challenging early career architects to propose creative ideas for a public outdoor installation, the winning entry - To Flow Together by Ciaran Magee - reimagined the ancient Roman compluvium, a structure that gathered falling rainwater for domestic use.
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