The project will now feature in a UK-wide competition alongside four other local entries
The university’s new Business School Student Hub has been awarded the 2025 Liam McCormick prize for Northern Ireland’s Building of the Year by the Royal Society of Ulster Architects (RSUA).
The hub, which is situated beside Riddel Hall on the Stranmillis Road, was one of five projects to receive an RSUA Design Award. All five will now be in the running for a UK-wide Royal Institute of British Architects award for architecture.
Previous winners of the prize include the Ulster University Belfast campus, the Lyric Theatre and the Giant’s Causeway Visitor Centre.
“Belfast is a thriving city but also packed with potential for so much more” – RSUA Director Ciarán Fox
Judges said: “The new Student Hub at Queen’s Business School is an outstanding achievement in holistic design, skilfully responding to a sensitive site, a complex brief and Queen’s University’s sustainability ambition.”
Four other buildings picked up awards from a shortlist of seven. Light House by McGonigle McGrath in Rory McIlroy’s hometown of Holywood was named Northern Ireland’s House of the Year.
This is the fourth year in a row the practice has won the accolade but the first time the winner has been a ‘re-use and extend’ project.
Silver Bark House outside Hillsborough by Marshall McCann Architects was awarded the Sustainability Award for its ambitious reduction of operational energy requirements and for keeping the embodied carbon from its construction to an absolute minimum.
Another QUB building designed by Hawkins\Brown and RPP Architects – One Elmwood Students Centre – won a Design Award.
The centre replaced the 1960s students union with a multi-purpose vibrant space for students in a prominent location in the city directly across from the university’s main building.
For their work on both award-winning buildings, Queen’s University was named as Northern Ireland’s Client of the Year.
New Gate Arts and Culture Centre by McGurk Architects
The final winner was McGurk Architects for its regeneration of New Gate Arts and Culture Centre in Derry which stands on a corner just outside the city’s historic walls.
The Roddy McCorley Heritage Centre and Templemore Baths were also shortlisted for the awards.
The awards ceremony took place in Ulster University’s Belfast campus, with Communities Minister Gordon Lyons presenting the top prize.
During the event, Katie Stringer, architect at Belfast practice Studio Idir, was named RSUA Rising Star. The award was established to recognise the significant and often unseen contribution made by architects in the early stages of their career.
RSUA Director Ciarán Fox paid tribute to the winners.
“It is often said that architecture reflects the priorities in society and highlights where investment in the longer-term is valued,” he said.
“On that thinking, it is very reassuring that some of the best architecture being produced in Northern Ireland is for our students.
“On the back of Ulster University’s Belfast Campus winning the Liam McCormick prize last year, Queen’s University has picked up the mantle of producing Northern Ireland’s Building of the Year.
“Belfast is a thriving city but also packed with potential for so much more. Critical to realising that potential is creating an environment where clients and architects are supported to deliver excellence in architecture.
“Queen’s and TODD Architects have shown what is possible. On a wider scale, RSUA is calling for a City Architect to raise expectations and standards across the board.
“I commend the clients and architects involved in all seven shortlisted projects and extend my particular congratulations to the five winners.”