Project Complete | Titanic Belfast
McCue delivers fit out of Titanic Belfast's Titanic Suite as landmark event spaces reopen
McCue has completed the fit out of the Titanic Suite at Titanic Belfast, the first phase of a phased investment programme in the attraction's Level 5 and 6 event and hospitality spaces.
Acting as principal fit-out contractor, McCue delivered the joinery, wall panelling and interior finishes behind the refurbishment of one of Northern Ireland's best-known event venues, the suite that houses the building's replica Grand Staircase.
The scheme was designed by Belfast interior designer Garuda Design, led by Suzanne Garuda, and delivered alongside a supply chain of Northern Ireland businesses including Rainey & Best, Ulster Carpets and W. Stevenson & Son.
The Titanic Suite, home to the grand staircase.
The scope
McCue's package covered new wall panelling and joinery detailed to reflect the scale and richness of traditional timber work, and large bas-relief panels depicting moments from the story of RMS Titanic.
Working alongside the wider team, the fit out also introduced bespoke carpet, curtains and new LED screens to improve wayfinding across the event spaces. In the North Viewing Gallery, which looks out over the historic slipways, a compass detail has been inlaid into the timber floor beneath a starlit ceiling.
A bespoke Irish linen wallcovering was produced by a third-generation decorator whose grandfather worked on RMS Titanic.
The finished palette of blues, golds and neutrals gives the suite a contemporary feel while holding on to the character of the building.
Delivered around a live venue
The work was completed to programme in a building that stays open to visitors year round, with the suite reopening ahead of a busy events calendar. Titanic Belfast has around 60 domestic, national and international events booked between September and December.
Tim Patton, Contracts Manager at McCue, said:
"The bigger challenge was programme and the level of bespoke joinery we had to manufacture in house within the timeline. Titanic Belfast stayed open the whole way through and had events booked either side of us, so we sequenced the works around the venue rather than expecting the venue to work around us. Handing the space back on time, at that standard of finish, comes down to the team on site and to how closely we worked with Garuda Design. "
Judith Owens MBE, Chief Executive of Titanic Belfast, said the organisation was "delighted with the finished result" and with the partnership with Garuda Design and the local suppliers and tradespeople who delivered it. She described the reopening as an important milestone in the growth of the venue's events business, noting that the refurbishment improved the space while retaining the flexibility that has made it one of Northern Ireland's most popular venues.
Suzanne Garuda of Garuda Design said "it has been an honour to help reimagine these spaces within this iconic building". She explained that the intention was to respect the heritage of the building while creating a contemporary look for a busy events venue, drawing on the craftsmanship and decorative detail associated with RMS Titanic and bringing together bespoke finishes, texture and detail throughout.”
