Business

Tyrone design firm expands into Belfast

Arcen directors Jason Arthur (left) and Johnston Bell at the Tyrone firm's new Belfast office
Arcen directors Jason Arthur (left) and Johnston Bell at the Tyrone firm's new Belfast office Arcen directors Jason Arthur (left) and Johnston Bell at the Tyrone firm's new Belfast office

THE architect and engineering firm behind Tyrone’s GAA’s £6.7 million centre of excellence in Garvaghy has announced a new name as it expands into Belfast.

Teague and Sally, which also designed the stand and media centre at Tyrone’s Healy Park county grounds in Omagh, has rebranded as Arcen.

Headquarted in Cookstown, the company has grown to 14 staff in the last three years, and projects 20% year-on-year growth over the coming 36 months.

Arcen has now opened a second office in the Lisburn Road area of Belfast.

Bebox Studios will be headed by the firm’s recently appointed senior architect Karson Tong.

Established 34 years ago, the Cookstown firm’s profile has continued to grow in recent years through a series of landmark projects. It designed the iconic celtic ‘T’-shaped GAA headquarters for Tyrone GAA, which opened in 2013.

Arcen’s profile has continued to grow in recent months with the unveiling of CDE Global’s new global headquarters in Cookstown. Officially opened in February, the investment is part of the engineering firm’s plans to add 150 staff by next year.

Arcen’s diverse profolio of designs also includes Mid Ulster Council’s planned dark sky observatory in Davagh Forest, due to open in the spring of 2020.

Speaking about the firm’s growth and Belfast move, Arcen director Jason Arthur said the company has been increasingly competing with larger multinational rivals.

“Belfast is the next logical step for us in developing our portfolio and service offering to clients and we already have a couple of student accommodation and ‘grade A’ office development projects underway in the city.”

The firm’s Belfast commissions include a 12-storey apartment scheme, intended for social housing; a five-storey student accommodation in University Street; and a multi-million pound ‘grade A’ office development in the city.

“ARCEN has always punched above its weight”, said Mr Arthur.

“Clients like the fact that we offer combined architecture and engineering expertise, but aside from that what really gives us the edge is a reputation for exceptional, original design delivered by a fully engaged senior management team. We expect to build on this reputation with the opening of our Belfast office.”