PwC opens its largest UK office outside London today (19 July 2021) as it moves into its landmark new Belfast home at Merchant Square.
The professional services firm is the sole tenant of the 200,000 sq feet building on Wellington Place, which can accommodate 3,000 people. The nine floor complex is also Belfast’s biggest private sector office letting deal.
Last month, PwC announced a £40m investment in developing an Advanced Research and Engineering Centre in Merchant Square, creating up to 800 jobs over five years.
Kevin Ellis, Chairman and Senior Partner at PwC UK, said: “This places the city at the centre of our technology strategy and creates hundreds of world-class career opportunities.
“Like many other big employers, we are focused on flexible ways of working as part of our new deal for our people and the office remains an important part of that.
"With its dedicated wellbeing space for our people, multiple spaces for collaboration and reconnecting with colleagues and an innovative application of technology to improve the experience of remote working - we believe Merchant Square addresses many of the questions about the role of the office.”
RELATED: PwC launches Business Academy for graduates with guaranteed job interview
The new office comprises of collaboration spaces that can be transformed from intimate meeting rooms for six people to large event areas for up to 150.
Booths in the restaurant come with screens so teams can connect over lunch with people working remotely.
Face and voice-tracking technology has been installed in enclosed meeting spaces to ensure that the hybrid-meeting experience "continues to support all participants", added the firm.
The dedicated wellbeing space is located on the fifth floor and offers live exercise classes including HIIT and yoga, meditation pods and personal services such as physio, reflexology and manicures.
Covid-19 safety measures include restricted access via a scheduling bot and temperature checks at the entrance.
“As we look towards the future, we’re fully aware of the significance of opening a city centre office," said Kevin MacAllister, PwC’s regional market leader in Northern Ireland.
"Our people are what makes us the leading professional services firm and we know they value having a place to come together and collaborate. As we support them to do this safely, we’re also supporting the economy by bringing our workforce back into the city centre and helping local business recover.”
RELATED: PwC to create nearly 800 NI jobs with new tech centre
