1957 – Winning Design for War Memorial Building, Belfast

The site was formerly occupied by the Queen Anne Hotel and a number of shops which were destroyed by German bombing during the Belfast Blitz in 1941. It was decided that when the site was to be redeveloped, it should be as a war memorial for Northern Ireland providing office space for charities and organisations associated with the armed forces. The designer of the scheme placed first, No. 40, was J.M. Bowley, of Sevenoaks in England. Constructed 1959-61, work was supervised by architect Granville Smyth (who placed third in the competition). Empty for several years, it is now potentially a site for redevelopment.

According to the design statement with the competition entry – “The building is planned symmetrically about an axis. The main entrance to the foyer and public hall is placed centrally in the Waring-street façade. There are two separate side entrances to the offices, as required by the conditions. The administration offices are placed on the ground floor. Exit passages (9 ft. wide) to Waring-street are on either side of the office block.

The main staircases ascend on either side of the rain axis to provide a majestic approach to the functions room on the first floor over the main entrance. Access to the public hall’s gallery is also provided from the first floor. The remainder of the Office block rises on the second to fifth floors with central corridors lit from both ends. On the sixth floor or roof level is situated the caretaker’s flat together with space for hostel accommodation if required at a later date. A six-passenger lift is placed to one side of the main axis so as to allow office staff to use it without passing through the public parts of the building; at the same time it is in easy reach for any member of the public who might not wish to climb the stairs to reach the first floor.

The fan-shaped ‘American Hall’ fits in comfortably on the site which narrows at the far end from Waring street. The spaciousness of the main entrance hall and glazed staircase link will make it possible for viewers to appreciate the existence of the hall from Waring-street without it being completely shut off by the office block in front. On the flank walls of the entrance hall there are two large stone panels to be used as memorial plaques for the two world wars; they will be in full view for people entering the building and also for passers-by.”