The Royal Society of Ulster Architects (RSUA) ran this conference “Architecture 2025: Reuse and Revitalise” on 4 April 2025 at Riddel Hall, Queen’s University Belfast.
This conference brought together the key players in Northern Ireland’s built environment sector to discuss the multitude of opportunities and challenges presented by our existing buildings. The diverse range of expert speakers from across the UK and Ireland provided insight into the policies, approaches and techniques that are delivering high impact re-use projects.
The conference aimed to inspire increased reuse, to discuss the how-to and to connect the people who can make it happen.
This conference is set against a background of a litany of new and emerging policies in Northern Ireland which recognise the importance of protecting and enhancing our existing buildings including:
Standard Rate: £70 plus VAT
RSUA Member: £63 plus VAT
Practice Services Scheme Subscriber: £52 plus VAT
A limited number of Student and Community tickets are available. Please get in touch with RSUA on info@rsua.org.uk or 028 9032 3760 to find out more.
Claire Hanna has served as Leader of the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) since October 2024.
She has served as MP for Belfast South since 2019. Claire previously served as an MLA for Belfast South from 2015 until her election to Westminster in 2019.
Glenn Patterson was born, and lives, in Belfast.
A writer of fiction, non-fiction, of scripts for stage and screen, and a founding patron of Fighting Words Northern Ireland, he is Director of the Seamus Heaney Centre at Queen’s University, Belfast.
Hilary McGrady is Director-General of the National Trust, Europe’s biggest conservation charity. Originally trained in graphic design, Hilary’s career path started in the drinks industry in brand and marketing. In 1998 she moved to become director of a national arts charity and was seconded in 2002 to become CEO of Belfast’s bid to become European Capital of Culture. Hilary joined the National Trust in 2006 as Regional Director for Northern Ireland. She later became Regional Director for Wales and the London and South East region and in 2014 was appointed Chief Operating Officer.
Pete Boyle is the Belfast entrepreneur behind successful ventures like Argento and Let’s Go Hydro.
Pete has grown Angus Properties, a successful property development business with a focus on transforming existing buildings. Most recently, he’s been behind the redevelopment of the City Printing Works on Queen Street and properties on Royal Avenue and Lombard Street into office and retail space.
Sara has over 15 years experience as a sustainability practitioner in the Corporate, NGO and FHE sectors. As Head of Sustainability in the Estates Directorate at Queen’s University Belfast, Sara leads the University’s expanded Sustainability Team, overseeing the development of the University’s sustainability strategy.
Queen’s University’s sustainable construction goals include the re-use, retrofit and refurbishment of existing buildings over construction of new buildings, implemented through projects like the Main Site Tower and Computer Science Building. The University also considers best practices when making the difficult decision to demolish existing buildings.
John Walker worked at Westminster City Council for over 34 years. As the Director of Planning, he oversaw the implementation of the ‘retrofit first’ policy, the regeneration of Paddington and Victoria, the redevelopment of the US Embassy on Grosvenor Square and the Old War Office.
John is now the Head of UK and European Real Estate and Infrastructure at the CT Group where he advises clients on all real estate asset classes, from strategic land acquisitions, residential and commercial property to retail, major developments and infrastructure.
Valerie Mulvin is a co-founder of McCullough Mulvin Architects, a Dublin-based practice focusing on the design of sustainable cultural, educational and civic buildings. Valerie is currently working on a range of cultural and civic projects integrating intervention and conservation, most recently the redevelopment of the Old Library for Trinity College Dublin. Valerie’s book Approximate Formality – Morphology of Irish Towns discusses the origin, originality and potential of towns and town plans in Ireland. This research is part of the exhibition The Reason of Towns, a collaboration with the Irish Architecture Foundation, which is currently touring nationally.
Phil Prentice is Founding Chief Officer of Scotland’s Towns Partnership (STP), former National Programme Director for Business Improvement Districts and a Senior Fellow of the Institute of Place Management.
He is currently a consultant with STP. With 30 years economic development experience across all sectors, his primary role is to help drive collaboration and innovation to revitalise, repurpose and regenerate town and city centres.
Arthur is design director at Like Architects and has over 19 years experience working in the commercial office, retail, student residential, and private residential sectors. He has led a number of the practice’s high profile projects in Belfast, London, Gdansk and Pisa.
With a particular interest in urban masterplanning and the creative reuse of existing buildings, Arthur has been responsible for the delivery of The Keep in Belfast, and Queensway Stores in Crawley, as well as a masterplan for Warrington town centre.
Rosie Webb is the Head of Decarbonisation at Technological University Dublin. She was formerly Senior Architect and Head of Urban Innovation at Limerick City and County Council, where she worked on the CityXChange project to develop a positive energy block in Limerick. She has extensive experience in climate action project management and planning, urban design, architecture and planning. She develops strategic programmes of work to enable compact climate neutral urban development and neighborhood revitalisation.
Jonathan has over 24 years’ experience in the industry and is joint Managing Director at Design ID. Alongside being a CARE Accredited Conservation Engineer, he has design experience for a broad project portfolio from large commercial schemes to bespoke art installations, including the redevelopment of the Maysfield Leisure Centre, Belfast as the HQ for Concentrix Europe. His conservation work at St.Mel’s Cathedral in Longford, Ireland received the IStructE Regional Group prize in 2016.
