Titanic offices in Belfast are restored in £5m project
A £5m renovation project has returned the historic drawing offices at Belfast shipyard to the glory of a century ago.
By Julian O'NeillBBC News NI Business Correspondent The two arched rooms were at the heart of the old Harland and Wolff headquarters building. More than 1,000 ships, including Titanic and HMS Belfast, were designed in the rooms, which fell into disrepair when the HQ became vacant in 1989. They have been restored as part of a project to transform the building into a new hotel. The rooms will soon open to the public as part of visitor tours, as well as serving as function rooms for the hotel. Six other "key heritage rooms", including the office of Thomas Andrews, will also be publicly accessible. The former shipyard managing director died on board Titanic in 1912. The restoration project has been supported by Heritage Lottery Fund cash. Paul Mullan, head of the fund in Northern Ireland, said: "It is wonderful to see the final elements coming together. "This will be another world-class maritime and industrial heritage attraction for visitors." The building at Queen's Island will open in September.