birminghamculture
February 1st, 2006, 05:52 PM
Reaching for the skies ... Belfast's new £50m tower
By Linda McKee
31 January 2006
http://www.broadwaymalyan.com/bmalyan/dms/12C7B008A213B53F21A9D3FF4D4616E6.jpghttp://www.broadwaymalyan.com/bmalyan/dms/12CFFBBE9B8614B7D977A77285EF6F53.jpg
Belfast's tallest buildings are soon to be cast into the shade of a new contender - the £50m Obel tower at Laganside.
The Minister for Social Development, David Hanson, was at Donegall Quay yesterday afternoon to see the first pile driven into the ground as phase one of the project was launched.
The landmark Obel tower will consist of a 26-storey residential tower, a 144-bed hotel, 41,000sq ft of office space and a double basement car park.
Mr Hanson said: "Signature projects such as Obel are a clear indication that Belfast is open for business and is well on the way to becoming a modern European city."
All 182 apartments in the residential tower were booked within 48 hours of their release a year ago. Developers Donegall Quay Ltd are in talks with a hotel operator, and the 41,000sq ft of office space over six floors is now available.
Local firm Charles Brand Ltd has been appointed contractor on the £7.5m first phase works to build the piled foundations and double basement.
Gayle Blackbourne, of Donegall Quay Ltd, said: "The pile driving ceremony today marks the beginning of work on the foundations and basement car park of Obel. This is a technically challenging project when you consider the confined city centre site, only metres from the River Lagan and near to the River Farset, which runs under High Street."
Anthony Hopkins, chairman of Laganside Corporation, said the transformation of the area began with public sector investment in Lagan Weir.
"A decade later Obel is a symbol of how we have created private sector confidence and a continuing momentum in waterfront development," he said.
By Linda McKee
31 January 2006
http://www.broadwaymalyan.com/bmalyan/dms/12C7B008A213B53F21A9D3FF4D4616E6.jpghttp://www.broadwaymalyan.com/bmalyan/dms/12CFFBBE9B8614B7D977A77285EF6F53.jpg
Belfast's tallest buildings are soon to be cast into the shade of a new contender - the £50m Obel tower at Laganside.
The Minister for Social Development, David Hanson, was at Donegall Quay yesterday afternoon to see the first pile driven into the ground as phase one of the project was launched.
The landmark Obel tower will consist of a 26-storey residential tower, a 144-bed hotel, 41,000sq ft of office space and a double basement car park.
Mr Hanson said: "Signature projects such as Obel are a clear indication that Belfast is open for business and is well on the way to becoming a modern European city."
All 182 apartments in the residential tower were booked within 48 hours of their release a year ago. Developers Donegall Quay Ltd are in talks with a hotel operator, and the 41,000sq ft of office space over six floors is now available.
Local firm Charles Brand Ltd has been appointed contractor on the £7.5m first phase works to build the piled foundations and double basement.
Gayle Blackbourne, of Donegall Quay Ltd, said: "The pile driving ceremony today marks the beginning of work on the foundations and basement car park of Obel. This is a technically challenging project when you consider the confined city centre site, only metres from the River Lagan and near to the River Farset, which runs under High Street."
Anthony Hopkins, chairman of Laganside Corporation, said the transformation of the area began with public sector investment in Lagan Weir.
"A decade later Obel is a symbol of how we have created private sector confidence and a continuing momentum in waterfront development," he said.