CIAT aspirATion Educational Trip to Belfast

Will Watts from our Plymouth office joined 22 Architectural Technologists from across the UK as part of a CIAT aspirATion Group educational trip to Belfast. The trip ran over a weekend giving a great opportunity to meet young professionals across various sectors to come together and meet with our Irish counterparts.

Our journey began on Friday, August 30th, as we settled into the Ulster University campus accommodation. We kicked off with a visit to TODD Architects Ltd., the creative minds behind iconic projects like Titanic Belfast and the newly completed Queen’s Business School. The day continued with CPDs and workshops at Lanyon Hall, thoughtfully arranged by energystore, and concluded with a sponsored social event—a great opportunity to connect and network with fellow members of CIAT Northern Ireland Region

Saturday was all about exploration. We embarked on a guided architectural walking tour with Larry Murphy from Belfast Walking Tours, uncovering the city’s rich architectural heritage. The highlight of the day was our visit to the Titanic Belfast, an exceptional example of museum curation and design, bringing Belfast’s maritime history to life. We wrapped up the evening at Common Market, a vibrant space filled with diverse food stalls in a repurposed warehouse setting.

Sunday offered a free day to explore Belfast at our own pace. Some of us visited St. George’s Market, The Dome at Victoria Square, the Ulster Museum, Crumlin Road Gaol Visitor Attraction & Conference Centre, before we all made our way back home.

This trip was a perfect blend of learning, networking, and experiencing the beauty of Belfast, with everyone who attended now knowing 21 more Architectural Technologists than they did before! If you are interested in getting involved in CIAT aspirATion please contact Will Watts and he will more than happily have a chat with you and connect you to your local region.