Scheme designed by Hawkins\Brown

Belfast council has approved plans by Hawkins\Brown and local studio RPP for a £30m student centre at Queen’s University.

The building will bring together the students’ union with all non-faculty services, including learning zones, club rooms, supporting offices, the SU bar, a multi-purpose hall and retail outlets.

The scheme will be built by Newry contractor Felix O’Hare, while the university will project manage the scheme itself.

Other members of the project team include two Belfast firms – structural and civils engineer Doran and QS Hood McGowen Kirk. M&E enginner is Salisbury firm JCP while landscape architect is County Antrim firm David Clarke.

The student centre is expected to open by 2023.