Adelaide Train Maintenance Facility, Belfast

Completed
2013
Budget
£14.7m
Location
Belfast
Client
Translink

A purpose built 24-hour facility on a brownfield site which serves Translink’s fleet of trains – providing stabling, re-fuelling and wash facilities along with a maintenance and cleaning shed and associated offices, staff facilities and storage.

White Ink’s design concept was to create a hierarchy of buildings across the site, with the Depot being the main building. A consistent palette of materials was used across all of the buildings in order to create a cohesive identity for the overall site.

The Depot, at over 200m long, is a slick linear box clad in silver metallic cladding with translucent Kalwall cladding to the south façade, through which the interior is bathed in diffused daylight. The accommodation/staff block is articulated at first floor as a projecting, floating box in distinctive red cladding. It projects at high level beyond the main shed, its dynamic form referencing the trains within.

The buildings base is detailed in simple blue grey brick that is used throughout the rest of the site for ancillary buildings. Careful detailing and coordination of services has ensured that the box forms are uncluttered and bold.

Photography by Aidan Monaghan

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“White Ink Architects were always happy to engage in matters of minor detail, and that underpinned the success of this development.”

PETER TISDALE, THAT GROUP ON TERRACE MOUNT BOURNEMOUTH

“We approached White Ink Architects following the viewing of their project – The Hill House. We felt that their careful response to working with and integration to existing buildings would be key to the success of our project. We are delighted with the openness of the new glazed extension and its ability to cross the divide between the internal and external realms.”

PRIVATE CLIENT

“White Ink Architects stood by their concept throughout design development and were able to demonstrate value when aspects of the design were challenged… such conviction has paid off… Project deliverables have met programme and quality targets.”

C.BRADBERRY, INFRASTRUCTURE EXECUTIVE, TRANSLINK ON ADELAIDE MAINTENANCE DEPOT

“They combine design flair with technical knowledge and bring the much needed element of ‘common sense’ to the design and build process.”

MIKE FITZGERALD, PROJECT MANAGER AT MERCER & MILLAR ON PREMIER INN WOKING

“They work in a collaborative and responsive way showing consideration and understanding of our functional needs, and our financial and time constraints.”

PETER TISDALE, THAT GROUP ON TERRACE MOUNT BOURNEMOUTH

“They are always pro-active and prompt in dealing with the day to day issues that occur on a project.”

MIKE FITZGERALD, PROJECT MANAGER AT MERCER & MILLAR ON THE PEARSE BUILDING AND PREMIER INN AT MAIDENHEAD

“…the refurbishment of the Whitehall Building is a feather in the cap for Sandy Row… its refurbishment breathes new life into the area.”

MR DAVID EVANS, PERSPECTIVE MAGAZINE ON WHITEHALL TOBACCO WORKS (MURRAY'S EXCHANGE OFFICES)

“White Ink Architects provided a unique and strong visual solution to this project working closely with our teams to ensure functionality was not compromised.”

C.BRADBERRY, INFRASTRUCTURE EXECUTIVE, TRANSLINK ON ADELAIDE MAINTENANCE DEPOT