Hall Black Douglas

Adaptive Reuse and Conservation Architect

Hall Black Douglas, recipients of the RSUA Liam McCormick Prize for Ulster’s Building of the Year for the Monaghan Peace Campus, are seeking architects who are passionate about architectural design, intervention and conservation.

The practice has developed a reputation for both conservation and sensitive contemporary interventions within listed and heritage building settings and seek to take the same crafted approach to both new works and adaptive reuse.  We seek to make a positive contribution designing considered spaces for living, working, wellbeing, learning, gathering and celebrating.

Building on the success of projects, such as Bank Buildings, St Comgalls Community Hub and The Tropical Ravine Botanic Gardens, we are currently delivering a diverse portfolio of projects including:

Examples of ongoing projects:

Conversion of former Dominican Church and Priory to Drogheda Library, utilising triple height space with mezzanine interventions. NZEB RIBA Stage 2

QUB Institute for Global Peace, Security and Justice, Conversion of three listed terrace properties to Passive House EnerPHit Standard/ BREEAM. RIBA Stage 4

Townsend Street Church Belfast development as Rehearsal and Performance space for Ulster Orchestra RIBA Stage 3

Strand Cinema, reinvention of Belfast’s last Art Deco Cinema as an Arts Hub and Cinema. RIBA Stage 5

Re-imagining of Shankill Parish Lurgan as a vibrant church and community space with new meeting and gathering space within the original volume. RIBA Stage 3

Portlaw Waterford Ireland’s first Planned Village: Adaptive reuse of derelict Courthouse and Schoolhouse as a community and performance space within a new urban quarter masterplan. NZEB RIBA Stage 2

Ulster Folk Park, new welcome and exhibition spaces within the context of the wider museum. RIBA Stage 2

We value a considered approach to design and a desire to meet and exceed clients aspirations.  This integrates architect’s skills in sustainable design, conservation and adaptive reuse, working together and aligned with our ethos.

As a by product of a job well done, many of our projects have received architectural awards including RSUA/RIBA Regional Design Awards for two Conservation led projects, Bank Buildings and St Comgalls Community Hub, with our whole office in attendance at the RSUA Design Awards Gala evening. Monaghan Peace Campus a NZEB project was awarded RIAI Awards 2025 for Public Building and Universal Access as well all RSUA Public Building; RSUA Awards 2026 Architects Choice, Regional Public Building + and Accessible and Inclusive Design Award

We provide Health Insurance, Mental Health Support, Cycle to Work Scheme, Continual Professional Development, including targeted training for NEC, Conservation, Passive House, etc. Staff have enjoyed a Friday afternoon on a Taste of Belfast tour and tours of building completed and onsite Flout Pizza at Portview, which were welcome additions to our regular in house CPD, along with the whole office being taken to the RSUA Niall McLaughlin lecture.

Who we are looking for:

The role is ideally suited to an architect who wishes to continue to develop both their career and the work of the practice in conservation and adaptive reuse. We are looking for an architect who has successfully delivered projects to a high technical standard.  We welcome applications from those at various stages of their career.

The architect should have ideally gained Conservation Accreditation at RIBA CA or SCA level and be able to contribute their understanding to projects. However we would welcome applications also from those who are able to demonstrate through their CV and portfolio that they have the experience and interest to work towards these accreditations within a supportive environment.

You would be joining a team of twenty people, working on a wide variety of interesting projects across multiple sectors in N Ireland and Ireland: including but not limited to: Community, Health, Culture, Leisure and Residential.  We have successfully delivered NZEB and BREEAM Excellent projects and as part of our ongoing tailored CPD for all staff now have qualified Passive House designers within the practice.

We would encourage applications for this permanent role from those that meet the requirements below:

Essential Criteria:

ARB or RIAI Registered Architect

Demonstration of architectural presentation, design and technical understanding

Demonstration of understanding conservation philosophy and methodologies

Desirable Criteria:

In depth Conservation Knowledge

Demonstrated Communication Skills

Experience of Historic Building Condition Reports, Stone Surveys and Measured Surveys

Experience of producing Heritage Impact Assessments and Conservation Management Plans

Proven competency in the delivery of high quality architectural/conservation projects

Demonstration of professional conservation training/development post qualification

Production of detailed Construction Drawing and Specification Packages

Contract Administration of Completed Projects at Construction Stage (UK/Ireland)

RIBA Conservation Registrant, Conservation Architect or Specialist Conservation Architect or RIAI Grade 1, 2 or 3.

Experience of UK or Ireland Contracts

Demonstrated architectural design skills

UK/EU Driving Licence

Please submit a written CV and Sample Portfolio (10-12 pages) in PDF Format to:

admin@hallblackdouglas.co.uk by 2.00pm Friday 16th October 2026.

For more information on the practice please visit: www.hallblackdouglas.com

 

Job Type: Adaptive Reuse and Conservation Architect
Salary: Negotiable
Location: Belfast
Closing Date: 16/10/2026