Titanic Signature Building

Building Owner
Harcourt Developments
Architect
Todd Architects
Main Contractor
Harcourt Developments
Sub-Contractor
McLoughlin Taylor Dry-Lining

Project Background

The Titanic Signature Building is situated in what was once one of the largest shipyards in the world - the Harland and Wolff. This shipyard was responsible for the construction of three Olympic sized ships, the most infamous of which was the Titanic which sailed from Belfast in 1912 - its first and final journey. To honour the memory of an industry that once provided over 70 ships, and the majority of jobs in Belfast, the 185 acre Titanic Quarter was developed. Since this development, it has become one of Europe’s largest inner city regeneration schemes, with the Titanic Signature Building at its heart. The building itself is a six-story aluminium and glass pavilion with four tilted wing-tipped roofs. The wings are largely windowless, clad in 3,000 marine grade aluminium planks which form a shimmering fractured skin. Each wing tip is approximately 30 metres high, roughly the height of a ships bow on the slipway.

 

The Challenge

The designers of this building were keen to have a lining system that mirrored the angle of the exterior cladding system, but that also provided a robust solution for the high levels of public traffic within the building. Acoustics were a big challenge due to the large open plan areas within the Titanic Signature Building, and high levels of fire resistance were required in order to meet the local fire regulations.

The Approach

The Gyproc technical specification team suggested the cladding rails in the internal lining of the ‘wing tips’ be directly lined with a bespoke detailed Gyproc GypLyner system following the angle of the cladded aluminum sheets, which provided a solution to the architect’s internal lining issue. The MF ceilings in the main function rooms are finished with Rigitone 12-25Q, which is the first time this particular type of Rigitone has been used in Ireland. In an effort to maintain low reverberation times and to make a comfortable acoustic environment of the patrons of the building, Gyptone Line 6 is used extensively in public areas. Fire regulations were met by incorporating Gyproc ShaftWall in the various service ducts and service risers which offered a high level of fire resistance.

Weight: 
8