Victoria Square (Belfast)

Victoria Square

Victoria Square completed in March 2008
Location	Belfast, Northern Ireland
Coordinates	54°35′54″N 5°55′31″W / 54.5983°N 5.9253°W / 54.5983; -5.9253
Opening date	6 March 2008
Developer	Multi Development UK
No. of stores and services	98
No. of anchor tenants	1
Total retail floor area	75,000 m2 (810,000 sq ft)
No. of floors	4
Parking	1000
Website	www.victoriasquare.com

‘Victoria Square is Belfast’s premiere shopping and leisure destination featuring over 70 international and local brands, restaurants and the Odeon cinema. The centre also features the iconic ‘Dome’ which offers the best views of the city.' Victoria Square' is a premium commercial, residential and leisure development in Belfast, Northern Ireland developed and built by Multi Development UK over 6 years. At approx 800,000 ft² (75,000m²) and costing £400m it is the biggest and one of the most expensive property developments ever undertaken in Northern Ireland. It opened on 6 March 2008. Its anchor tenant at nearly 200,000 ft² (18,581m²) is the largest House of Fraser that the retailer has opened in the UK.

A key element in the development is two covered, multi-level streets linked to the massive glass dome measuring 35 m in diameter. A public square covered entirely by the glass dome serves as the hub of the entire area. The ornate Jaffe Fountain, constructed in the 1870s by former Lord Mayor Otto Jaffe in memory of his father, has been restored to its original location in Victoria Square. Victoria Square is a neighbourhood consisting of 17 contextual different buildings. Pedestrian links to nearby business, nightlife and shopping streets on Laganside, Donegall Place, Royal Avenue and Ann Street. Victoria Square includes a wide variety of shops for males, females and children as well as a wonderful 80 ft viewing area. Victoria Square was developed by Multi Development UK Ltd in co-operation with T+T Design. The Architects are Building Design Partnership and T+T Design, the in house architects of Multi Corporation.

In employment terms, over 3,000 people were involved in the construction phase of Victoria Square, with a further 3,000 people gaining employment in the scheme through jobs in retail, security and the service industries. Environmentally, a large section of the roof has been covered in Sedum in a direct attempt to reduce the carbon footprint of Victoria Square. This material soaks up rainwater allowing it to evaporate naturally over time rather than overload draining systems.

Victoria Square is the largest ever retail-led regeneration scheme to open in Northern Ireland, covering 1.8 hectares. Multi Development UK was appointed Department for Social Development's development partner in 2000. The scheme was granted outline-planning approval in 2002. Multi Corporation sold Victoria Square to Commerz Real in 2004. Today Victoria Square is valued at over £400m. Construction commenced in April 2004 and lasted 46 months to completion and were overseen by local joint venture contractors Farrans and Gilbert Ash. Sedum roof installed by BBS Green Roofing.