Grand Opera House, Belfast

by Consarc Design Group 

Client Grand Opera House Trust 

Award RIBA Northern Ireland Award 2023 , Conservation Award 2023, Project Architect of the Year 2023 (James Grieve)

Belfast’s Grand Opera House was built in 1896 by theatre architect Frank Matcham. It stood for 125 years as a theatrical centrepiece along Belfast’s ‘Golden Mile’, Great Victoria Street. In 2017 the Grand Opera House Trust deemed that a substantial restoration was necessary in order to secure the building’s future, and enlisted Consarc Design Group to carry out the refurbishment.  

The brief was to ensure that the Grade A-listed structure was restored to its former splendour and future-proofed to enable an exemplary experience for future audiences, casts, and crews. This meant working with both the historic auditorium and addressing the challenges of the visitor experience within the 2006 extension which contained the main box office and bar areas.  

Read the full citation from the RIBA Awards Jury on RIBA Journal.

Contractor Tracey Brothers Ltd 

Interior Design Garuda Design   

Environmental / M&E Engineer Semple McKillop 

Structural Engineer Albert Fry Associates 

Quantity Surveyor / Cost Consultant  - WHStephens 

Theatre Consultants CharcoalBlue 

Gross internal area in m2 5178