2009 Refurbishment
In 2007, a major refurbishment plan was initiated by the Consarc Design Group, under the direction of architect and Everest mountaineer Dawson Stelfox. The main aim of the refurbishment was to restore the venue back to its original condition, while also modernising the building's facilities and providing better disabled access.
The £8.5 million project included:
- Refit and redecoration of the Grand Hall, including reopening the windows which had been covered since the 1980s
- Installation of new removable seating on ground floor
- Recreation of the original metal balcony balustrade and chandeliers
- Installation of new roof, floors and a moveable stage extension
- Installation of new high-specification sound, heating, lighting and air-conditioning systems
- Upgrade of toilet facilities
- New five-storey extension at the rear of the building, providing modern dressing rooms, education suites, meeting and administration facilities and the offices of the Ulster Orchestra
- New box office facilities
- Restoration of Joseph Carey's paintings of Belfast scenes (see above) and development of new dedicated new gallery space for their display
- New interpretative display telling the history of the hall
- Conversion of the adjoining minor hall (formerly the Group Theatre) into circulation space, bar and café
The refurbishment was performed by Graham Building Contractors and was jointly funded by Belfast City Council, the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure, the Heritage Lottery Fund and the Arts Council of Northern Ireland. The hall was reopened with a gala event on 6 March 2009.
Previously stated as 1,850, the seated capacity of the refurbished hall is 1,000. Since the reopening, the hall has provided a rehearsal home and (from June 2009) administrative offices for the Ulster Orchestra.
Read more about this topic: Ulster Hall