The award-winning inner   city   Forthriver   Innovation   Factory was designed and built on a brown field site formerly used for various industrial activities. The turnkey design and build project provides approximately 55,000 square feet of innovation space which will support up to 400 jobs. The building is intended for start-up companies, as well as existing small to medium enterprises in West Belfast. The project has been designed to BIM Level 2 and with the use of the collaboration tool ’Aconex’ the client had constant real-time access to design information.

The accommodation includes 382 workstations across 111 business units, and will house more than 100 businesses and entrepreneurs at full capacity. The offices are fully fitted to Grade A standard, and provide flexibility to allow expansion as individual tenants grow.

The business centre has an excellent internal acoustic rating, natural light and ventilation which contribute to providing a comfortable experience for all building users. Fully serviced facilities include meeting and conference rooms, hot desking, superfast broadband connection, 24/7 access for tenants, on-site catering and car parking.

Located in proximity to one of Belfast’s well-known peace lines, the £9 million project required careful co-ordination and continual liaison (through Heron Bros’ Considerate Constructors Programme) with local community groups, residents, Belfast City Council and police, to gain complete community support for the project.

Forthriver Innovation Factory offers huge potential to socially regenerate this wider area and become a catalyst in bringing more jobs and opportunities to those living nearby, as well as the wider city.

Forthriver Innovation Factory won the Sustainable Project of the Year at the Sustainable Ireland Awards 2016. Our project team at The Innovation Factory in Belfast has achieved a top gold award at the 2017 National Considerate Constructors Scheme awards.