Alumni engagement and philanthropy



NEWRY FIRM FELIX O’HARE TO BUILD NEW QUEEN'S STUDENTS' UNION  

Based on article by John Mulgrew in Belfast Telegraph on 15 August 2019.

21 August 2019

Newry firm Felix O’Hare – responsible for a number of other key capital projects at Queen’s in recent years – has won the tender to construct the new multi-million pound Students’ Centre building at the University.

Once opened, the building will support enhanced student welfare, learning, development, entrepreneurship and employment opportunities.

A spokesman for Queen’s told Ulster Business: “Queen’s University Belfast has appointed Felix O’Hare as construction partner on the development of a new student centre and Students’ Union.

“The new centre, which will be completed in the 2021/2022 academic year, is part of the University’s strategic priority to create world-class facilities for students. The project is a two stage construction process. In the first stage, Felix O’Hare will assist the University and its design teams in the development of technical proposals. The second stage will see the development and construction of the main project.”

Replacing the Students’ Union (SU) building that opened in 1967 and went through major refurbishment in 2005, the new centre will include vibrant social and commercial spaces such as the SU Shop, the SU Bar, a Mandela Hall entertainment venue, and state-of-the-art facilities for clubs and societies.

In a design statement from RPP Architects and Hawkins/Brown, it says the building is part of a long-term vision to develop top end facilities across the University “that are truly world-class, in particular, to create an emotional heart of Queen’s and a symbol of the ambition that this University has for every student”.

“Students want to be enriched with a full programme of academic, co-curricular and extra-curricular activities and services that will enable them to be the best graduate possible and gain quality employment opportunities,” it says.

“The purpose of the building is to provide facilities to support student life, including the SU (Students’ Union), student guidance, generous open and flexible entrance space, informal learning zones, club rooms, supporting offices, multi-purpose hall, SU Bar, catering and retail outlets”.

Felix O’Hare, which will build the scheme, has already been involved with major Queen’s University projects, including the School of Law, a development which forms a key part of the University’s £350m investment to transform the campus into world-class facilities for staff and pupils.

A Public Consultation, attended by hundreds of staff, graduates and members of the public, took place at Queen’s last September (2018) enabling people to view detailed proposals, to discuss outline plans with the architects working on the project and to provide feedback on the new facility.

Further details of the propsed Student Centre, including outline floor plans and additional imagery can be viewed online.

To find out more about supporting the new Student Centre please contact Helen Carrick, +44 (0)28 9097 3403.

For media enquiries, please contact Queen’s University Communications Office, +44 (0)28 9097 3091.

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