Belfast

SOLOIST 
Country: UK, Northern Ireland
Location: Belfast
Purpose:  residential space, office space, retail, services
Main Contractor:   Patton Construction,
Architect:   WDR & RT Taggart
Our contribution: Performing static, fabrication and site project curtain walls.
Complete: 2014

The construction of the “Soloist’, formerly known by it’s working name ‘No 2 Lanyon Place’ was a key component of the Belfast Lanyon Place area development plan developed by Lagonside, an organization established in 1980 in order to implement the Lagan River embankment revitalization plan. 
The development of Lanyon Place was defined by the Lagonside Corporation zoning plan with the Waterfront Hall building as the centerpiece.   The ‘Soloist’ is located at the main entrance to Lanyon Place in between May and Oxford Streets and opposite of  the Royal Court of Justice. The goal that Lagonside Corporation has set for architects was to create distinctive building that would complement the Waterfront Hall and add coherent character to the entire Lanyon Place. The project was also intended to shield the area from south-westerly winds.

PROJECT
The ‘Soloist’ building consists of five storeys and an additional storey on its roof. The ‘Soloist’, according to its masterplan is connected with the parapet of Waterfront Hal at the height of the roof. The building is 10,500 m² in size. The ground floor is intended for commercial, service and residential usage, while the upper floors are used for office space.   
On both sides of the ‘Soloist’, a passage has been designed that intersects building, creating a pedestrian route from St. Georges Market to the entrance of Waterfront Hall in the process. The passage was made to be the heart of the building, it includes office entrances, cafes, bistros, galleries, etc.

CONSTRUCTION
Construction of the ‘Soloist’, designed by the Norwegian company Niels Torp, has started during the worst economic conditions on the construction market. Work on the completion of Soloist ceased in 2010 and construction-related loans were transferred to the National Asset Management Agency of Ireland (NAMA), and the agency provided founding which allowed to finish its constructions in 2014.   
The ‘Soloist’ is one of the Belfast’s most characteristic office developments.