Belfast Stories project announces appointment of Ralph Appelbaum Associates

Ralph Appelbaum Associates (RAA), a multidisciplinary firm specialising in the planning and design of museums, exhibits, educational environments and visitor attractions, has announced that it has been appointed to deliver the interpretive masterplan and concept design for the visitor attraction element of the proposed Belfast Stories project in Northern Ireland.

The firm will be assisted in this project for the landmark city centre attraction by Barker Langham as curator and interpretation planner.

Sharing Belfast’s stories

The appointment coincides with the project entering RIBA Stage 2, also referred to as the ‘Concept Design’ phase. This is a vital point in the eight-stage ‘Plan of Work’ model set out by the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA). The model is the industry standard for briefing, designing, constructing, and operating large-scale building projects.

Deputy Lord Mayor, Councillor Andrew McCormick says: “Belfast Stories is making significant progress and RAA’s appointment is another fantastic step towards unlocking almost 100 years of heritage at the 5,000 square metre Art Deco Bank of Ireland site. It is wonderful that the ambition we have for Belfast Stories is matched by the teams appointed to transform this much-loved heritage site into a dynamic public space, visitor experience and creative hub that holds the potential to transform our city centre.

“Belfast Stories is a flagship project for the city and very much embodies our ambitions for
Belfast to become a more inclusive, compassionate, vibrant, and visited city.”

RAA will collaborate with the integrated design team, which was appointed in November 2023. The architectural and structural design will be led by Snøhetta, known for designing the Oslo Opera House and 9/11 Memorial Pavilion in New York, and Belfast-based TODD Architects. Gleeds, a property and construction consultancy, will provide project management.

The visitor attraction will be critical to the success of Belfast Stories. RAA was chosen due to its extensive international experience creating museum and storytelling environments. Its previous projects include the Obama Presidential Centre in Chicago, the International Slavery Museum and Maritime Museum in Liverpool, and the US Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington DC, among others. The firm has also supported the Braid Arts Centre in Ballymena and Dublin’s Museum of Literature Ireland (MoLI).

John Blanchard, director at Ralph Appelbaum Associates, comments: “We are delighted to be part of the team that will help bring this unique project to life. We are already immersing ourselves in the city of Belfast and look forward to working closely with the Project Management Office and our partners to design this ground-breaking visitor experience.

“At its heart, this project is about capturing, collecting, telling and sharing Belfast’s stories to empower both residents and visitors to further explore and understand the city’s past, present and hopes for the future. Our role is to provide the vehicle to allow these stories to be shared collectively for the very first time. It’s an incredible project.”

RAA’s team comprises lighting designer Michael Grubb Studios, AV hardware and film auditorium technologists Sysco, and specialist cost consultant Fraser Randall.

Creative hub

Belfast Stories held a forum session on 2 July with the experience design team. Attendees learned about the team’s developing ideas and gained a greater understanding of the project’s scope and ambition. They also had the opportunity to share their own opinions.

John McGrillen, chief executive officer of Tourism NI, believes Belfast Stories has the potential to reinvent the city centre and contribute to its continuing regeneration.

He explains: “Belfast is the gateway to the region – attracting people to this authentic and vibrant city is essential to the growth of our tourism industry right across Northern Ireland. We are a nation of storytellers and storytelling is at the core of our experience brand, allowing us to share our Giant Spirit with the many visitors who come here.

“Belfast Stories has the potential to become the home of the city’s fascinating, complex and diverse narrative and the natural orientation point for tourists when they visit Belfast and Northern Ireland.”

The attraction will serve as a hub for the region’s creative industries and film-related institutions. It will also house Northern Ireland Screen’s digital film archive.

Richard Williams, chief executive of Northern Ireland Screen, says: “Belfast Stories will prioritise the power of screen. By creating a dedicated, dynamic space to explore authentic local stories, and developing the industry’s skills at the same time, we are putting infrastructure in place that offers the region a really exciting opportunity to continue to build its screen legacy.”

Historic Royal Palace’s Crown Jewels exhibition at the Tower of London opened in May 2023 and explores the history and significance of the country’s most magnificent treasures. Ralph Appelbaum Associates (RAA) recently shared details of its project to design the exhibition.

Top image: Pictured at the Stories Network event held by Belfast Stories are (left to right) Sarah Field, city and growth deal manager at Tourism NI, John Blanchard, director at Ralph Appelbaum Associates, Eimear Henry, strategic lead at Belfast Stories, Sarah Pollard, director of physical design at Ralph Appelbaum Associates, Deputy Lord Mayor Councillor Andrew McCormick, Rachel Teskey, director at Barker Langham, and Yukiko Stranger-Galey, senior consultant at Barker Langham.

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