Location: Belfast, Northern Ireland
Bank Buildings is a Grade B1 listed structure located in the heart of Belfast and is one of the city’s most historically significant commercial buildings. Following a major fire in 2018, the building suffered extensive structural damage, necessitating a carefully planned restoration programme. McFarland Consulting Ltd were appointed to undertake detailed surveys and material investigations to support the safe and sensitive restoration of the structure.
MCL carried out comprehensive surveys of the external façades and investigations to a range of fire-damaged structural elements. The scope of works included detailed measurement of architectural façade features, investigation of structural composition and assessment of material condition to inform the restoration design. Due to the compromised state of the building and the associated health and safety risks, all works were carefully phased and coordinated alongside demolition activities.
The investigations required meticulous planning to enable access to unstable areas of the structure while maintaining safe working conditions. MCL successfully completed detailed surveys, extracted material samples and gathered critical information on the building’s construction and historic fabric, despite the challenging site constraints.
The outputs from the surveys and investigations provided the design team with a detailed understanding of the building’s original architectural features and structural form prior to partial demolition. This information was instrumental in developing an appropriate remedial and restoration strategy, supporting the ongoing regeneration of this important heritage asset and its return to use.