Queen's University Advanced Manufacturing Innovation Centre (AMIC)

Rooflights Bring Vision to ‘Factory of the Future’ Research Hub

The Advanced Manufacturing Innovation Centre (AMIC) is a 10,500 sqm flagship facility for Queen’s University located at Global Point Business Park in Newtownabbey within the greater Belfast area.

Known as the ‘factory of the future’, AMIC is a collaboration between academia and industry providing companies with access to state-of-the-art facilities, expert engineering support and leading research capabilities. The centre helps businesses innovate, improve productivity and develop new products and processes.

Its mission is to drive growth and competitiveness across the N. Ireland manufacturing sector paving the way for future technologies and competing globally with a more sustainable focus.

Brett Martin successfully met multiple architectural and technical requirements by supplying a combination of Glass Link rooflights and Marvault vaulted rooflight systems across 2 distinct zones of the facility.

Two premium Glass Link rooflights comprising 10 fixed modules were fitted to flood the double-height foyer with natural daylight. A laminated inner pane also ensures the safety of building occupants below.

Ten Marvaults were installed over ten bays in the factory area in lengths of exceeding 7 metres and spans of over 3.5 metres. These elegant vaults provide the optimum combination of light transmission and play a crucial role in reducing demand for electric lighting as well as lowering CO₂ emissions and operating costs.

Together, the two rooflight systems deliver exceptional levels of daylight into the facility optimising internal environment conditions by enhancing the aesthetic and thermal performance of the research facility. The increased daylight also has a positive impact on occupant wellbeing and creates a more comfortable working environment.

The project has received significant industry recognition. AMIC won the highest accolade at the 2026 NI Construction Awards, securing the Overall Award as well as Commercial Construction Project of the Year.

The facility also won Engineering Project of the Year at the 2026 Irish Construction Industry Awards and was shortlisted as a finalist in the Design project of the year category.