Titanic Belfast is the building at the centre of the Titanic Signature project which will involve the restoration of the Titanic slipways and Harland & Wolff building along with the landscaping of a new public realm. Within the building a range of cultural, leisure and commercial uses are arranged over five levels with two underground parking levels. A Flying Theatre was initially agreed although the inclusion of an Immersive Theatre as opposed to the Flying Theatre concept is currently under discussion between project partners. Titanic Belfast is funded by the Northern Ireland Executive [£43.5m], Belfast Harbour Commissioners [£20.5m], Belfast City Council [£10m] and Titanic Quarter Ltd [£23m] and will be owned and operated by a stand-alone charitable company called Titanic Foundation Ltd (TFL). Construction began on Titanic Belfast during the summer 2009 with a two year construction program scheduled followed by one year of fitting out from Spring 2011 with a view to completion in April 2012. 

Titanic Belfast will provide:
• Visitor exhibition;
• Temporary exhibitions;
• Flying Theatre / Immersice Theatre;
• Banqueting suite / conference facilities;
• Education and community facilities;
• Catering & retail;
• Two level basement car parking

Funding
Titanic Belfast received a commitment from the Northern Ireland Executive in November 2008 to provide up to £43.5m towards the total development costs. The remaining funding for the £97m project comes from Belfast Harbour Commissioners (£20.5m), Belfast City Council (approx. £10m) and Titanic Quarter Ltd (approx. £23m).

Titanic Foundation Ltd
The Titanic Signature Project will be owned and operated by a stand-alone charitable company called Titanic Foundation Ltd (TFL).

Titanic Belfast Memorandum of Understanding
A Memorandum of Understanding was signed in November 2009, until 2014, between project partners and set out a three tier governance structure and management arrangements for taking the process forward. The structure involves a Strategic Advisory Board, a Co-ordinating Steering Group and six Thematic Action Groups covering the priority areas of:

− Employment, Education and Skills (TQ Work)
− Accessibility and Transport (TQ Access)
− Housing (TQ Housing)
− Community Outreach (TQ Outreach)
− Tourism Development and Promotion (TQ Tourism)
− Quality Open Space and Public Art (TQ Space).

Construction
Construction began on Titanic Belfast during the summer 2009 following speculation that a delay in commencing construction could prevent completion for April 2012. These reports were dismissed by the Chairman of Belfast Harbour Commissioners in August 2009 in an interview with the Irish Times. During 2009 Dawson WAM constructed the 100 by 100 metre basement by installing “483 linear metres of 600mm diameter hard/hard secant wall”. The basement was then excavated to a depth of 7m by Harcourt Construction to allow Dawson WAM to install around 1,000 bearing piles each carrying 1500kN in up to 5m of Belfast sleech and on top of 6m of sand. On the 4th December 2009 4,200 cubic metres of concrete was laid 8m below ground level across an area of 3,800 square metres to create the basement for the building. Over 100 men from five different companies worked in shifts throughout the night whilst 50 concrete trucks delivered approximately 250 cubic metres of concrete per hour [one load every two minutes]. The pour was reportedly the largest ever concrete pour to take place in Ireland. 2010 saw the structural steel and concrete frame of the building taking shape and in June 2010 Mike Smith of Titanic Quarter Ltd stated that good weather had placed the building one month ahead of schedule. By the end of 2010 mechanical and electrical elements were being installed and the building was almost entirely clad in the first layer of material with the first of the faceted, three-dimensional zinc plates being installed. The building is expected to be watertight by February 2011 allowing for one year of fit out works following the two year build program.

Changing from a Flying Theatre to an Immersive Theatre
As the design of the overall project and operating contract progressed, a number of drawbacks of the Flying Theatre became apparent. There were issues surrounding a possible lack of interest from older people, height restrictions affecting younger children and family groups and the cost of refreshing the film experience. Due to these concerns and following discussions between Harcourt Construction and Professor Ballard [who first located the remains of Titanic] proposals for the Immersive Theatre developed. Discussions were largely confidential until early in 2010 when wider stakeholders became aware of the concept at the Titanic Storyline Group which is working on the details of how the Titanic story is told. Harcourt believe that an Immersive Theatre "overcomes the issue of a disconnected formal gallery but meets all the other performance criteria for the Flying Theatre". It also "brings the unique Ballard asset base to Belfast" and adds to the authenticity of the visitor experience. Included in the feature would be an Ocean Exploration Centre allowing direct real time exchange with scientists on board Ballard’s exploration vessels as well as linkages to universities and marine schools across Europe.

Concept Architect: Civic Art
Quantity Surveyor: Cyril Sweet
Consulting Engineer: RPS Consulting
Interior Designer: Event Communications Ltd 
Piling: Dawson WAM
Consulting M & E: Tavakoli Associates
Concrete Contractor: M.R. Concrete Ltd
Structural Steel: Fisher Engineering
Facade Contractor: Metalbau Frueh
Facade Manufacturer: EDM Spanwall
Interior Exhibition & Gallery Fit-Out: Marcon Fit-Out
Titanic Glass Dome Replica: Art Glass
Titanic Grand Staircase Replica: Old Town Joinery
Supplier of Roof Waterproofing: Alumasc
Roof Contractor: Grainger Roofing
Food Service Strategy: Coverpoint
'Titanic' Feature Sign: BSK Engineering