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Obel Tower

Coordinates: 54°36′07″N 5°55′19″W / 54.602°N 5.922°W / 54.602; -5.922
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Obel Tower
Obel Tower, Belfast
Map
General information
StatusCompleted
TypeResidential
LocationDonegall Quay, Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom
Coordinates54°36′07″N 5°55′19″W / 54.602°N 5.922°W / 54.602; -5.922
Construction started2006
Completed2011
Cost£60 million
Height
Roof85 m (279 ft)[1][2][3]
Technical details
Floor count27
Design and construction
Architect(s)Broadway Malyan and Chris Marshall

The Obel Tower is a highrise building in Belfast, Northern Ireland, located on Donegall Quay on the River Lagan beside the Lagan Weir. Measuring 85 metres (279 ft) in height,[4][5] the tower is the tallest storeyed building in Ireland, dominating the Belfast skyline. On completion it overtook the previous tallest building in Belfast and Northern Ireland, Windsor House (80 m).

History

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Obel Tower was developed by the Karl Group at a cost of £60 million. Its name derives from "obelisk" and "old Belfast".[6][7]

The tower contains 233 apartments.[8] The first 182 apartments released in March 2005, priced from £100,000 to £475,000, were reserved off plan within 48 hours.[9][10]

Construction work on phase one of the project, the foundations and 2 storey basement carpark, began in January 2006.[11] In mid-2007 construction work on the site ceased, and all of the construction equipment was removed; construction then recommenced on 17 June 2008.

Planning permission was granted in January 2008 for an extra two floors to be added to the tower to cater for further demand in apartment space. The anticipated completion date was originally summer 2010; however, owing to the construction moratorium the building was not completed until spring 2011. These extra floors brought the overall height up from 80.5 metres to 85 metres.

In April 2011 it was announced that London law firm Allen & Overy was to rent all of the available office space at the Obel.[12]

In October 2011 local catering firm Mount Charles opened its second 'Fed and Watered' branded cafe in one of the retail units on the ground floor.[13]

On Friday 30 November 2012 administrators were appointed to Obel Ltd, Obel Offices Ltd and Donegall Quay Ltd. The three firms control the residential complex. According to the BBC, the main firm, Donegall Quay, is unable to pay debts to the former Bank of Scotland Ireland (BoSI) — believed to be more than £51m.[14]

New York based Marathon Asset Management acquired the Obel development for more than £20m during 2014.[15]

Obel 62 (the tower) received a £2m refurbishment during 2016. The work included refurbishment of communal areas and installation of a solar window film by Solartek Films Ltd.[16]

See also

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[edit]
  • Obel Tower, October 2009
    Obel Tower, October 2009
  • Obel Tower, October 2009
    Obel Tower, October 2009
  • Obel Tower, October 2009
    Obel Tower, October 2009
  • Obel Tower, October 2009
    Obel Tower, October 2009
  • Obel Tower completed
    Obel Tower completed

References

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  1. ^ "Obel Tower". glenform.com. Archived from the original on 4 December 2015.
  2. ^ "Obel Tower > Glazed In Window Vents > Belfast". brookvent.co.uk. Brookvent. Retrieved 3 September 2021.
  3. ^ "Planning permission granted for what will be Ireland's tallest building in Cork". irishnews.com. Irish News. 25 March 2021. Retrieved 3 September 2021. Ireland's tallest building is currently the Obel Tower in Belfast, standing at 85 metres high
  4. ^ "Z/2011/0577/F | Continuation of curtain walling glazing system to the ground floor of blocks 2 and 3 elevations including provision of entrance doors | Donegall Quay Belfast BT1 3EE". epicpublic.planningni.gov.uk. Retrieved 11 March 2021.
  5. ^ "Tallest building in Ireland taken over by administrators". thejournal.ie. Journal Media Ltd. 1 December 2012. Retrieved 3 September 2021.
  6. ^ "Obel Tower Raises Belfast's Waterfront to Great Heights : CEG". www.constructionequipmentguide.com.
  7. ^ "New Homes: Belfast aims for the heights" – via www.thetimes.co.uk.
  8. ^ "Obel residential sales brochure" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 February 2022.
  9. ^ "High-rise flats all sold out in 48-hour rush". Belfast City Council - Investment Belfast News. 8 March 2005.
  10. ^ "Building debate towers over city". BBC News. 11 March 2005. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
  11. ^ "First pile driven on Obel project". Belfast City Council - Investment Belfast News. 1 February 2006.
  12. ^ "Top legal firm set to move into Obel". Belfast Telegraph. 21 April 2011.
  13. ^ "Caterers bite into English market". Belfast Telegraph. 22 November 2011.
  14. ^ "Landmark Belfast tower block Obel enters administration". belfasttelegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  15. ^ "New York fund Marathon emerges as Obel buyer". bbc.com. BBC News. 12 May 2014. Retrieved 23 October 2021.
  16. ^ "Obel". Future Belfast.
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