In April 2021, Wallace Whittle went through a management buy-out. As we celebrate the five-year milestone this year, we look to our Belfast office, which has grown in size, strength and turnover.
We sat down with Location Director, Gavin and Associate, Aidan to discuss the timeline and process of this growth.
Foundations
Wallace Whittle Belfast has existed in various forms since 2006. In 2017, we made a deliberate move to re-establish a stronger Belfast office – this time with a very different ambition.
The earlier presence was perhaps best known for projects like IKEA, but this wasn’t about putting the same pieces back together. With new leadership, a new team and a broader scope of expertise, the focus quickly shifted toward more complex projects and a stronger, more consistent presence in the Northern Ireland market.
That approach has taken the office from a single desk to a well-oiled team of twelve, with turnover doubling in the past year alone.
Building the Team
The re-build began with the appointment of Gavin McCausland as Location Director and Board member in 2017. For that first year, he was the Belfast office. Maurice McAnearney, Director, joined the following year, followed by Aidan Keown, Associate – forming a core team that remains in place today.
Having worked together for many years previously, they didn’t need time to find their rhythm. The trust was already there, which meant the focus could stay on getting the work right from day one.
“At the start, it was just about getting something up and running again. There wasn’t a big masterplan, it was more a case of building it properly, bringing the right people in, and making sure the work we delivered spoke for itself.” Gavin shared
There was a conscious shift early on. Rather than continuing with smaller, fragmented projects, the team set its sights on work of a different scale. Securing Dublin Airport marked a step forward – one of those jobs that signals a change, both internally and in the market. From there, framework appointments, including Department of Education projects, helped build momentum and strengthen long-term relationships.
A New Home on Hill Street
From that small founding team, Belfast has grown into a well-established office of twelve people, supported by a move into a new city centre space in May 2025.
Now based on Hill Street, the office sits in one of Belfast’s most vibrant areas. It’s a setting that suits the team – busy, connected, and with plenty going on around it.
Like our other offices across the UK, the Belfast space reflects a consistent Wallace Whittle approach – creating a high-quality, flexible environment that supports collaboration and day-to-day working. It’s part of a wider investment in how we operate as a business.
That investment has already made a difference. Since relocating, both headcount and turnover have increased significantly. The growth has been steady rather than rushed, built on reputation, relationships and repeat work.
Sustainability is part of that shift as well. The city-centre location has improved access to public transport, and the building incorporates features such as photovoltaic panels and aerothermal heat pump systems. More widely, sustainability is shaping the work itself, with net zero requirements now embedded in many design briefs and driving demand for decarbonisation and retrofit projects.
Project-led Change
The change in the Belfast office is probably easiest to see in the work being delivered.
Cambridge Halls is a good example of how things have moved on – it’s a different scale of project to what the team was dealing with in the early days. The high-rise nature of this Building Safety Act high-risk, multi-building, 2400-bedroom purpose-built student accommodation, complete with a full BSR gateway submission, changed the scale of major projects the team was able to deliver. At the same time, developments like the award-winning Paradise SE11 commercial office development in London show where things are heading, particularly around low-carbon design and timber construction.
“Dublin Airport was probably the point where it felt like things were moving in the right direction. Since then, the work’s changed, the scale’s changed, but the approach hasn’t – we just focus on doing a good job and build from there.” Gavin shared.
Since that early milestone, the portfolio has broadened across sectors. Projects such as DVA Headquarters, the new benchmark MOT Test Centre, Wolverhampton Learning Quarter and Rapid7 Belfast reflect a team that’s comfortable working across different types of work, adapting to different challenges as they come.
That approach has naturally opened up new opportunities. The team has expanded its presence in sectors such as student accommodation, commercial development, particularly retrofit and decarbonisation, alongside further and higher education and urban realm projects.
Some projects lean more technical, particularly where Passivhaus or tighter sustainability targets are involved. Others are more about the relationships behind them. There’s a core group of architects and contractors the team continues to work with, and that consistency says a lot about how the Belfast office operates, reflecting the wider Wallace Whittle ethos.
Working in the Belfast Market
Operating in Northern Ireland comes with its own dynamics. The talent pool is smaller, and at times political uncertainty has had an impact on project pipelines. But those challenges have helped shape a more focused and considered approach.
However, being part of a wider business is a clear advantage. The Belfast team draws on experience from across the UK and Ireland, bringing added depth to what it can offer locally. Access to Wallace Whittle’s UK-wide Sustainability team supports that further, combining specialist expertise with the agility of a regional office.
There’s also a particular way of working that suits the market. In an environment where contractors are known for being pragmatic and delivery-focused, the Belfast team operates in much the same way – responsive, straightforward, and focused on getting things done.
That carries through internally as well Gavin shared,
“It’s a small team, so everyone has to pull together. There’s no real ‘that’s not my job’ attitude – if something needs to be done, people just get on with it. That’s probably been one of the biggest strengths as we’ve grown.”
It’s not something that’s enforced – it’s just how the team works. That approach creates a collaborative environment where workloads are shared, and support is readily available. No one is left carrying too much on their own, and that balance has been a key factor in sustaining growth without compromising quality.
Developing Talent for the Future
With a limited recruitment pool, developing talent has become a key focus – not just for Belfast, but across Wallace Whittle.
That’s reflected in how the team is growing. Aidan Keown has recently been promoted to Associate, alongside Nick Hawthorne, showing the progression that’s possible within a developing office.
Apprentices play an important role. Through the Wallace Whittle Academy, the team is supporting early-career engineers as they build their experience, helping to create a pipeline for the future. A wider business initiative supports this, making it easier for offices to bring in apprentices and invest in long-term development through a ‘buy one, get two free’ approach where Head Office covers apprentice costs.
The Belfast team is also building stronger links with schools and universities, including Methodist College Belfast, Ulster University and Queen’s University – helping to raise awareness of engineering careers and connect with emerging talent.
Looking Ahead
The next phase for Belfast is about continuing what’s already working – quality of product & quality of service.
Growth is very much part of the plan, with the team expected to expand alongside a steady pipeline of work across healthcare, life sciences and decarbonisation. At the same time, being part of a wider business provides a strong platform, with access to experience across the UK and Ireland as projects continue to grow in scale and complexity.
That connection works both ways. Strong relationships with Irish contractors, many of whom operate across the UK, mean Belfast is well placed to support opportunities beyond Northern Ireland, particularly as we continue to grow our presence in England.
“The aim now is to keep growing, but not for the sake of it. It’s about bringing the right people in, doing the right projects, and making sure we don’t lose what’s worked well so far.” Gavin said.
There are still challenges, particularly around access to talent, but the approach is already in place: invest in people, build long-term relationships, and grow at a pace that doesn’t compromise quality.
From a single desk in 2017 to a well-established team less than a decade later, the progress is clear. Just as important is that the mindset hasn’t changed.
The focus is still on doing good work, working well together, and building something that’s going somewhere.
This marks another exciting step in Wallace Whittle’s growth journey as we continue to expand our capabilities and strengthen our presence across the UK.
Reach out to Gavin at [email protected] to discuss your next project.
