AwardedAwarded 16 July 2026

Belfast Stories Experience Design Team

Belfast City Council · Local authority

In brief

Belfast City Council awarded architecture and engineering and leisure and events work to Ralph Appelbaum Associates, Inc. on 16 July 2026.

The notice gives a value of £1,500,000 excluding VAT.

The contract runs for 5 years, starting 30 June 2026.

Built from the notice's own fields. Always check the official notice before you bid.

What the notice says

The purpose of this procurement process is to successfully appoint an Experience Design Team (“EDT” or “Designer”) for the Belfast Stories Project. An interpretive masterplan has been previously completed along with a concept design to RIBA stage 2. This procurement process is to appoint a team to take the existing interpretive masterplan and concept design and develop them further from RIBA stages 3 to 7. The overarching interpretive framework is critical to ensuring that the concept of Belfast Stories is fully integrated across all elements of the project including but not limited to the main exhibition. The exhibition design and its content will be central to delivering an excellent visitor experience and maximising connectivity across the site and into the city. The Experience Design Team (EDT), is to lead and manage the EDT. The EDT shall include the DTM disciplines of Interpretative Planner, Exhibition Designer, Visitor Experience Consultant and Curator and shall also include, but is not limited to, Digital Design Engineers, Specialist Lighting and Sound Designers & Engineers , Specialist Display Structural Designers & Engineers, Specialist Display Mechanical and Electrical Designers & Engineers, Digital Lead, Graphic Designer, Specialist Curatorial Team Building Information Modelling (BIM) Designer.

Who won

WinnerValueDates
Ralph Appelbaum Associates, Inc. (SME)
1 bid received
£1,736,159
Awarded 16 July 2026

Values as the award notice gives them, excluding VAT where stated.

Timeline

  1. Tender notice · UK4, notice 015674-2026
  2. Contract award notice · UK6, notice 070457-2026

About the buyer

Belfast City CouncilLast 12 months

Procurements

56

Awards

30

Suppliers it has used most for architecture and engineering

  1. FW127 - Infrastructure Professional Services

    TranslinkNorthern IrelandArchitecture and engineering

    Closing soon3 days leftExpress interest2 lotsSuitable for SMEs

    £78mestimated
  2. UREGNI - Customer Care Register Project Manager

    Utility Regulator (UREGNI)Northern IrelandArchitecture and engineering, Energy and utilities

    Open7 days leftSuitable for SMEs

    £185kestimated
  3. PRN26138 Dundonald Area Land, Design and Build - Maple and May Ltd

    Choice Housing Ireland LimitedNorthern IrelandConstruction, Architecture and engineering

    Open8 days leftSmall contract

    £3.5mestimated
  4. Department for Communities Strategic Planning Services Framework 2026

    The Department for Communities (DfC)Northern IrelandArchitecture and engineering

    Open9 days leftFramework

    £800kframework ceiling
  5. SCAPE Construction Works and Services Framework

    Scape Procure LimitedNorth East, North West, Yorkshire and the Humber, East Midlands, West Midlands, East of England, London, South East, South West, Wales, Northern IrelandEnergy and utilities, Construction

    Open11 days leftExpress interest5 lotsSuitable for SMEsFramework

    £8bnframework ceiling

From notice 015674-2026 on Find a Tender, first published 20 February 2026, last updated 24 July 2026. We last checked for changes on 28 September 2026.