In the heart of Belfast’s Queen Street, a striking Victorian warehouse has undergone a dramatic transformation. Once teetering on the edge of demolition, The Printworks has been meticulously restored and reimagined as a contemporary office and retail destination, with a blend of heritage and modern functionality – and it’s fast becoming a beacon for businesses who value sustainability as much as style.
At a time when companies are under growing pressure to align with Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles and net-zero targets, The Printworks offers a compelling proposition. Not only does it preserve a key piece of Belfast’s architectural heritage, but it also represents a powerful alternative to carbon-heavy new builds.
“We didn’t just want to bring the building back to life – we wanted to give it a future,” says Peter Boyle of Angus Properties. “By working with the building’s existing fabric, we’ve dramatically reduced the carbon footprint compared to starting from scratch.”
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"Demolition and new builds come with a high environmental cost. Instead, we’ve kept the bones of the building intact and brought it up to modern standards without erasing its character.”
“We retained and carefully restored all the original floorboards, complete with markings where the old printing presses used to be put to work and walkways worn in by the workers hobnail boots. You wouldn’t have this tangible link to our city’s history in a new build.”
The restoration has transformed what was once an overlooked and dilapidated space into a vibrant hub for innovation and enterprise. Preserved industrial features – such as exposed brick, steel beams, and soaring ceilings – now serve as dramatic backdrops for highly individualised fitouts.
On the ground floor, an independent coffee shop and hairdresser now bring daily footfall and energy to the building and surrounding area, while upstairs, things get interesting as the tenants have personalised their own spaces.
“The flexibility of the space is a huge asset,” says John Megaughin of PR agency Clearbox, which takes up residence on the building’s second floor. “We were able to shape our office to suit our team and match our personality without compromising on the character or history of the building.”
Clearbox opted for an open, collaborative layout with pops of colour and flexible working areas – a huge media wall and sofa for team brainstorms and discussions, but also booths and breakout rooms for catch ups and calls.
“The restoration’s architect, Paul Elliot, mentioned to us that while they may have brought the building back to life, the tenants are its future and it’s something we’re very proud to be part of.”
The fitout designed on behalf of law firm Millar McCall Wylie on the third floor has a structured, sleek atmosphere with warm tones, private meeting rooms and refined finishes.
“We feel like The Printworks is the perfect building to represent our individuality,” says Jan Cunningham, Managing Partner at Millar McCall Wylie. “It reflects the atmosphere we wanted to create for our team. When we were exploring our options for a new base, everything else felt very similar but The Printworks really stood out. It’s a unique place to work, with so many interesting features and it’s great to be part of.”
The newest tenant, PA Consulting, had strict requirements when choosing the new location for its Belfast base. The building had to have an EPC (Energy Performance Certificate) of “B” or above, something the team were pleasantly surprised to find was awarded to The Printworks.
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“Finding such a beautiful Victorian building with an EPC grade of “B” almost felt too good to be true – we were so pleased that this requirement didn’t resign us to only considering newer builds and can appreciate that obtaining this rating would have taken considerable effort in the restoration phase” said Karen Duffy, Senior Specialist at PA Consulting.
Occupying a sustainably restored building like The Printworks sends a clear message – not just about a company’s environmental responsibility, but about its long-term vision. The restoration also contributes to Belfast’s broader urban regeneration efforts – proving that heritage-led development can be both commercially viable and culturally enriching.
“Sustainability isn’t just about materials or energy use,” adds Peter Boyle. “It’s about preserving community identity, encouraging responsible tenancy, and creating spaces that people actually want to spend time in.”
With its fusion of old and new, and its emphasis on purpose-driven design, The Printworks is setting a new standard for workspaces in Belfast – and beyond. Sometimes, the most forward-thinking spaces are the ones that honour where we’ve come from.
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