The Royal Society of Ulster Architects (RSUA) invites you to attend its annual conference “Architecture 2025: Reuse and Revitalise” on 4 April 2025 at Riddel Hall, Queen’s University Belfast.

This conference brings together the key players in Northern Ireland’s built environment sector to discuss the multitude of opportunities and challenges presented by our existing buildings. The diverse range of expert speakers from across the UK and Ireland will provide insight into the policies, approaches and techniques that are delivering high impact re-use projects.

The aim is to inspire increased reuse, to discuss the how-to and to connect the people who can make it happen.

Speakers

• Glenn Patterson, Writer and Director of the Seamus Heaney Centre
• Valerie Mulvin, Director at McCullough Mulvin Architects
• Hilary McGrady, Director-General of the National Trust
• Phil Prentice, Founding Chief Officer of Scotland’s Towns Partnership
• John Walker, Former Director of Planning at Westminster City Council
• Jonathan Macauley, Managing Director at Design ID
• Pete Boyle, CEO of Argento and Developer
• Arthur Parke, Design Director at LIKE Architects
• Rosie Webb, Head of Decarbonisation, Dublin Technological University

For full details see here.

Overview of the key issues to be explored at the conference

• The economics of revitalising existing buildings
• Cultural value of existing buildings
• The obstacles and challenges of reusing buildings in NI
• How the planning system can encourage re-use
• Overcoming structural challenges
• Making existing buildings work harder for local communities
• Driving community regeneration through building revitalisation
• The role of community energy in facilitating building re-use
• Town centre reimagining
• How to make the best of demolition