The Vision
"Titanic Quarter is a high profile European waterfront development firmly rooted in the history and character of Belfast, acting as a driver for high quality investment and development in the city."Titanic Quarter, Europe's largest and most exciting waterfront development, will transform a 185-acre site on the banks of Belfast's river Lagan into a new mixed use maritime quarter with a mile of water frontage and a range of investment opportunities including: over 7,500 apartments, 900,000 sq. m. of business, education, office and research and development floor space together with hotels, restaurants, cafes, bars and other leisure uses.

Titanic Quarter will bring new life to a part of the city that is rich in both history and potential. The site is centred upon former shipbuilding land from which vessels such as the RMS Titanic, Olympic and SS Canberra were launched - some of most innovative and complex engineering projects ever undertaken.

It will become a major social and business meeting place with galleries, theatres, parklands and water sports all easily connected to Belfast's thriving city centre. The Titanic Quarter development is co-promoted by the Port of Belfast and Titanic Quarter Limited. The £5bn development is expected to create at least 25,000 new jobs over the next 15 years.

Titanic Signature Project
In an area steeped in history, the Titanic Signature Project forms a central part of the development of Titanic Quarter. The state-of-the-art building, designed by leading international architects and designers will include a 'Titanic Experience' exhibition, a 'Flying Theatre' which allows visitors a birds eye view across Northern Ireland, a Titanic-themed banqueting suite and a community arts facility for local exhibitions, performances and conferences.

The project will also include the restoration of the Titanic and Olympic slipways, the Thompson Dock and Harland and Wolff's former Headquarters building. The Titanic Signature Project will bring alive the area's history, and will attract visitors from across the world.

Helping Belfast rediscover that 'Titanic Town' heritage, Titanic Quarter, Belfast Harbour Commissioners and the Northern Ireland Executive have committed £65m to create the £90m landmark Titanic Signature building at the head of the Titanic's slipway.

What can we expect to see inside ?
Belfast has been slow to tell the Titanic story from its point of view. It has taken nearly one hundred years for the fate of the so called practically unsinkable ship to be reconciled in the minds of the city which built her. She was sent out with such pride and yet less than two weeks after leaving her home, she was at the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean. While other cities around the world, some with strong Titanic connections and some with no connection at all, have built attractions, Belfast has lagged behind, almost uncertain of what to do with the story. In 2011 and 2012, the city is at a stage where it can celebrate the achievement of engineering which Titanic represents as well as telling some of the unknown stories of the men who built her and sailed on her.

Housed in an iconic, 6 floor building, this state of the art visitor experience tells the story of the Titanic. The visitor begins in turn of the century Belfast, to learn why this city which was once the third largest in the Empire, was so industrialised. From there, the story of Titanic's conception is told followed by its early construction, launch, fit out and tragic maiden voyage. The story is brought up to the present with the discovery of the wreck and into the future with live links to contemporary undersea exploration. Across ten galleries, with an equal number of interactive exhibits, Titanic Belfast will convey the sights, sounds, smells and stories of the shipyard and its most famous creation.

The Administration building and Drawing offices
It may surprise some of the website readers to know that the new Titanic Signature Building is being built only a matter of feet away from the original drawing offices , this is being carefully 'married ' , to ensure the whole project works and having the old beside the new tells the story of the historic Yard as well as the regeneration . In the photograph below , ( taken from the Titanic drawing office ) we can actually see just how cloose the two buildings are .

As yet no-one has come forward with a full regeneration plan for the offices as they stood originally , however a global hotel chain have showed interest in developing both the administration and drawing offices as a 400 room hotel with full conference facilities and a fitting interior for this classic structure . Only time will tell , but one thing is for sure , the deadline for completion of the entire Titanic Quarter Project is April 2012 , we at White Star Momentos will be there , we hope you can visit as well .