The Belfast premiere of a short documentary film commissioned by the company responsible for constructing some of Northern Ireland’s landmark buildings has taken place at the Queen’s Film Theatre (QFT).
Gilbert-Ash’s film, Building Culture, celebrates five iconic buildings which were previously shortlisted for the Royal Institute of British Architects’ (RIBA) Stirling Prize, including two Northern Ireland projects – the Lyric Theatre and the Giant’s Causeway Visitor Centre.
The film also features the Everyman Theatre in Liverpool, which was named winner of the prestigious architecture award in 2014, as well as focusing on the iconic National Portrait Gallery in London and Cambridge Central Mosque.
A key focus of Building Culture is to shine a light on the levels of collaboration required to bring ambitious designs to life as buildings which make a difference to the people who use them and the communities they serve.
In addition to the premiere, the event also included a Q&A session with some of the film’s contributors which was hosted by experienced Arts journalist, Marie-Louise Kerr.
The panel included Ray Hutchinson, Managing Director of Gilbert-Ash; Morag Keating, Senior Producer at the Lyric Theatre; and Graham Thompson, who was Project Director of the Giant’s Causeway Visitor Centre.
Ray Hutchinson said the common thread amongst all five projects celebrated in the film was the remarkable level of collaboration between everyone involved.
He said: "These five projects are among the best work we have delivered at Gilbert-Ash. We have been privileged to work with some of the UK’s leading organisations and architects to bring them to life.
"Our teams were challenged by each design, pushing the boundaries of what could be built. Through partnership and collaboration, we worked as one to deliver outstanding buildings for our clients.
"We were delighted to welcome guests from across the design and construction industry to this celebration of collaboration and excellence, as we watched our work on the big screen at QFT."
“As a company we enjoy great success working in other parts of the UK, Ireland and around the world, but Northern Ireland is home.
“In addition to the two projects in the film, we have a rich portfolio of work here. This includes the iconic Waterfront Hall, the five-star Fitzwilliam Hotel, the AC Hotel by Marriott, as well as the refurbishment of the Grand Opera House. More recently we completed the fit out of PwC’s stunning new headquarters at Merchant Square in Belfast.”
Gilbert-Ash’s portfolio of landmark projects continues to grow with the ongoing redevelopment of Tate Liverpool and a major refurbishment of RIBA’s Grade II listed London headquarters.
Gilbert-Ash has a unique approach to construction, fit-out and refurbishment based on the belief that great buildings come about through hard work, inspired innovation and genuine collaboration. Sustainability is also a key focus with a number of initiatives underway to help the company reduce its carbon footprint.