Bullitt Hotel, Belfast

The planned development of Annesgate offices as a boutique hotel expanded to include properties in Church Lane, ultimately creating a hotel, restaurants, bars and night club over four floors, rooftops and courtyard.

Phase 1: Taylor & Boyd assessed the 1956 office structure, vacant for some time but in sound condition. We commenced design to meet Client and Architect vision.

Phase 2: Following strip-out and demolition of obsolete elements, a structural condition survey confirmed that existing columns and foundations of a neighbouring 1910 building could support loads associated with a new lightweight steel portal frame and rooftop extensions. Original drawings in Building Control archives, confirmed findings.

Phase 3: As the existing roof slab was inadequate for the increased loading of rooftop bar/restaurant we designed a grillage of steel beams at roof level, supported on stub columns correlating with existing column positions.

Mini-piles were used to support new lift pits with local dewatering applied while concrete cured.

We designed a lightweight steel portal frame for the rooftop extensions on the each building to support Corten steel cladding.

Glass and steel-frame canopies were created over the courtyard bars and restaurants.

Fire escapes were extended and bespoke structures designed to maintain safe boundaries on upper floor balconies.

The busy city-centre location required all materials to be craned into the courtyard and to the point of construction between 04:00 and 10:00 on Sundays. The closure of Anne Street for this period was negotiated with Transport NI.

Photographs courtesy of Bullitt Hotel, Beannchor Group and Taylor & Boyd

Click to expand the photos below