NICVA Community Resource Centre, Belfast
Provision of purpose built facility to provide offices, meeting rooms and resource areas for NICVA along with a major conference area with facilities for sub-division for variety of smaller groups.
NICVA, which is the umbrella organisation for all the Community and Voluntary Sector in NI, were previously operating from a partially converted terrace of houses on the Ormeau Road, with individual staircases continuing to service the various properties. Consequently internal circulation was very difficult and disabled access to the upper floors was not possible.
Following a feasibility study into alternative proposals, a site within the North City Business Centre in Duncairn Gardens was identified as being the preferred option by NICVA for a new-build development. The site was also considered to be located in an area suitable for all sections of the NICVA client base.
The building consists of approx 1800m² of offices, conference, library and resource facilities, built with a split-level plan to accommodate the levels of the sloping site and to provide continuous level access for disabled persons. The roof of the main building is barrel vaulted and all external finishes have been carefully designed and specified to reduce maintenance costs.