Waterfront Hall
Encyclopedia
The Waterfront Hall is a multi-purpose facility, in Belfast
, Northern Ireland
, designed by local architects' firm Robinson McIlwaine. Practice partner Peter McGukin was the project architect.
The hall is located in Lanyon Place, the flagship development of the Laganside Corporation
. The development is named after the architect Charles Lanyon
. Planning for the building began 1989, with the hall being completed in 1997 for the sum of £32 million. The main circular Auditorium seats 2,241 and is based on the Berlin Philharmonic Hall
designed by Hans Scharoun
. However the flexible design of the Auditorium allows the stalls seating to be moved to create a larger arena. The smaller adjoining Studio seats 380. The dome of the building is coated in copper. This is so the exterior will eventually turn green and reflect the dome of Belfast City Hall
and other Victorian buildings
in the city centre
. The building also contains bars and a restaurant.
In 2002, the hall was voted the second best conference centre in the world in the Apex Awards. A 2006 socio-economic impact study commissioned by Belfast City Council
found that the hall had generated £10 for the city for every £1 spent on operational costs.
Jan 2010.
The hall is a key venue for the Belfast Festival at Queen's
and for concerts given by the Ulster Orchestra
.
During their 2002 tour, in promotion of their album Right Now
, famous pop trio Atomic Kitten
recorded their Right Here, Right Now
DVD at the auditorium.
In 2011 the Waterfront hosted the Sinn Féin
Ardfheis, the first time for it to be held in Belfast
.
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
, Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
, designed by local architects' firm Robinson McIlwaine. Practice partner Peter McGukin was the project architect.
The hall is located in Lanyon Place, the flagship development of the Laganside Corporation
Laganside Corporation
The Laganside Corporation was a non-departmental public body formed by the Laganside Development Order 1989 with the goal of regenerating large sections of land in Belfast, Northern Ireland adjacent to the River Lagan...
. The development is named after the architect Charles Lanyon
Charles Lanyon
Sir Charles Lanyon DL, JP was an English architect of the 19th century. His work is most closely associated with Belfast, Northern Ireland.-Biography:Lanyon was born in Eastbourne, Sussex in 1813...
. Planning for the building began 1989, with the hall being completed in 1997 for the sum of £32 million. The main circular Auditorium seats 2,241 and is based on the Berlin Philharmonic Hall
Berliner Philharmonie
The Berliner Philharmonie is a concert hall in Berlin, Germany. Home to the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, the building is acclaimed for both its acoustics and its architecture....
designed by Hans Scharoun
Hans Scharoun
Bernhard Hans Henry Scharoun was a German architect best known for designing the Berlin Philharmonic concert hall and the in Löbau, Saxony. He was an important exponent of Organic architecture....
. However the flexible design of the Auditorium allows the stalls seating to be moved to create a larger arena. The smaller adjoining Studio seats 380. The dome of the building is coated in copper. This is so the exterior will eventually turn green and reflect the dome of Belfast City Hall
Belfast City Hall
Belfast City Hall is the civic building of the Belfast City Council. Located in Donegall Square, Belfast, County Antrim, Northern Ireland, it faces north and effectively divides the commercial and business areas of the city centre.-History:...
and other Victorian buildings
Victorian architecture
The term Victorian architecture refers collectively to several architectural styles employed predominantly during the middle and late 19th century. The period that it indicates may slightly overlap the actual reign, 20 June 1837 – 22 January 1901, of Queen Victoria. This represents the British and...
in the city centre
Belfast City Centre
Belfast city centre is the central business district of Belfast, Northern Ireland.The city centre was originally centred around the Donegall Street area. Donegall Street is now mainly a business area, but with expanding residential and entertainment development as part of the Cathedral Quarter...
. The building also contains bars and a restaurant.
In 2002, the hall was voted the second best conference centre in the world in the Apex Awards. A 2006 socio-economic impact study commissioned by Belfast City Council
Belfast City Council
Belfast City Council is the local authority with responsibility for the city of Belfast, the capital and largest city of Northern Ireland. The Council serves an estimated population of , the largest of any district council in Northern Ireland, while also being the fourth smallest by area...
found that the hall had generated £10 for the city for every £1 spent on operational costs.
Notable events
Many plays take place every year, in the 350 seated capacity studio, including operas, pantomimes and musicals, including Scary MusicalScary musical
Scary Musical is an original musical composed by Leon Parris and written by Jon Smith and Leon Parris.The musical first opened in the Belvoir Players' Theatre, Northern Ireland in 2009 and then returned to Northern Ireland for a run in The Waterfront Hall in January 2010...
Jan 2010.
The hall is a key venue for the Belfast Festival at Queen's
Belfast Festival at Queen's
The Ulster Bank Belfast Festival at Queen's is an annual arts festival held in Belfast, Northern Ireland. The 49th Festival will take place from 14 to 31 October 2011.-History:...
and for concerts given by the Ulster Orchestra
Ulster Orchestra
The Ulster Orchestra is a symphony orchestra based in Belfast, the only full-time professional orchestra in Northern Ireland. The orchestra plays the majority of its concerts in Belfast's Ulster Hall and Waterfront Hall...
.
During their 2002 tour, in promotion of their album Right Now
Right Now (Atomic Kitten album)
Right Now is the first album by Atomic Kitten and features the hit singles "Right Now", "See Ya", "I Want Your Love", "Follow Me" and "Whole Again". It was the first and last album to feature original member Kerry Katona.-Album information:...
, famous pop trio Atomic Kitten
Atomic Kitten
Atomic Kitten were an English girl group from Liverpool, first established in 1997. Created by Andy McCluskey, the final line-up, and most commercially successful, consisted of Natasha Hamilton, Liz McClarnon, and Jenny Frost...
recorded their Right Here, Right Now
Right Here, Right Now (DVD)
Right Here, Right Now is a 2002 DVD by Atomic Kitten. The DVD was recorded at Waterfront Hall in Belfast in 2002 during their tour and features the live band "The Phat Cats", and also contains "The Kitten Diaries" which was 48 minute documentary previously aired by Channel 4 made by the girl group...
DVD at the auditorium.
In 2011 the Waterfront hosted the Sinn Féin
Sinn Féin
Sinn Féin is a left wing, Irish republican political party in Ireland. The name is Irish for "ourselves" or "we ourselves", although it is frequently mistranslated as "ourselves alone". Originating in the Sinn Féin organisation founded in 1905 by Arthur Griffith, it took its current form in 1970...
Ardfheis, the first time for it to be held in Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
.