Belfast Building Bags Top Prize

A Belfast building has won a top global architectural prize in the Leaf Awards.

Todd architects in the city, won the 2011 Mixed Use Building of the Year award for their building titled – The Boat.

Now in its ninth year, the Emirates Glass Leaf Awards honour the architects designing the buildings and solutions that are setting the benchmark for the international architectural community.

Leaf is the forum of Leading European Architects and its members include many of the world's top architects.

The 14-storey 'Boat' sits on the newly revived Customs' House Square with spectacular views over the river Lagan and Belfast Lough. The tower incorporates luxury apartments above offices with a restaurant and bar space at ground and first floor level.

Winning features include the building’s the glazed facades, bespoke aluminium, picture frames and hardwood shading.

Judges said: "The innovative live/work/leisure building was almost certainly the first of its kind in Belfast".

Todd Architects was established in 1976. The architects is hailed as one of the leading integrated practices in the UK and Ireland.

They have expertise in a wide range of sectors and projects range from complex buildings of high technological content to major developments of visual, environmental and commercial significance.

(LB/BMcC)