Business services business Deloitte has finally relocated its 1,300-strong Northern Ireland staff to the iconic Ewart building in Belfast’s Linen Quarter.
A move first announced in January 2019, Deloitte will occupy 46,000 sq ft of space on the second, third, 15th and 16th floors of The Ewart’s modern office tower in Bedford Street, close to the original office it occupied in Belfast for more than 30 years.
Deloitte was originally due to move in by 2022, but its plans were hampered by Covid-enforced delays.
One of Belfast’s most recognisable buildings, the former linen warehouse dates from the city’s days as an industrial powerhouse in the 19th and early 20th centuries (it was originally designed by James Hamilton for the Bedford Street Weaving Company and completed in 1870).
Once almost derelict, it has been carefully restored to retain original features including archways, pillars and staircases, and its historic design features have also been incorporated into the new office tower.
The £85 million scheme was developed by McAleer & Rushe.
Jackie Henry, managing partner for people and purpose at Deloitte and the firm Northern Ireland office senior partner, said: “This new office is an amazing space for our people and gives us a platform to continue serving our clients and partners in Northern Ireland and beyond.
“After having had a presence on Bedford Street many years ago, this feels like a return to our roots for Deloitte Belfast.
“The investment the firm has made in our new headquarters is testament to the high quality of our teams in Belfast and demonstrates our commitment to playing an active role in the Northern Ireland economy and wider business ecosystem.
“It’s been brilliant to see the incredible talent in our region come together in the new space, and we look forward to hosting our clients and partners in The Ewart throughout 2025.”
Deloitte designed the new office to enable a culture of engagement and inclusivity, with more shared spaces for team connection and collaborative working.
The dedicated client suite on the 16th floor provides stunning views over Belfast and a number of multi-use spaces to engage with clients.
Wellness spaces are also incorporated, including a nursing room and a multi-faith space, while social spaces include a games room and outdoor terrace on the 15th floor.
The firm’s hybrid working model allows teams to have flexibility and choice in how they work across client sites, Deloitte offices and home.
The Belfast move follows Deloitte’s teams in Edinburgh, Manchester and Bristol moving into new offices designed with sustainability and collaboration in mind.
- Deloitte partners with Catalyst to open new Belfast city centre innovation hubOpens in new window
- Wealth management firm Tilney Smith & Williamson agrees terms for prestigious Ewart buildingOpens in new window
- AXA Insurance and MCS Group latest tenants confirmed for The EwartOpens in new window
- Belfast restaurant Flame announce relocation to The EwartOpens in new window
- Boost for Belfast city centre as Deloitte to set up in new £85m Bedford SquareOpens in new window
The new Belfast office has been designed to incorporate strong environmental features which prioritise low carbon use and products with high recycled content.
Last October Deloitte announced a new partnership with independent non-profit science and technology organisation Catalyst which will see it establish a new hub ‘Catalyst Bedford Street’ for start-ups and scale-ups on the ground floor of The Ewart Warehouse building.
The new hub will include a café operated by social enterprise NOW Group.
As well as Deloitte, The Ewart building will be home to a number of other tenants, including wealth management and professional services group Tilney Smith & Williamson, AXA Insurance, recruitment consultancy MCS Group, and Evelyn Partners, while the building also houses the 2,677Sq ft Flame restaurant on the ground floor
