A DIGITAL marketing company based in the US has opened new offices in Belfast city centre after its move was delayed by the Primark fire last year.
Bazaarvoice is renting 10,000 sq ft of office accommodation at McAuley House in Castle Street.
The company provides software that allows retailers to add customer reviews to their websites.
It first moved to Belfast - its European base - in 2017 and announced its plan to create 168 new jobs over three years.
The company had aimed to move to its new premises on Castle Street around 12 months ago but had been delayed following the fire at nearby Bank Buildings in August last year.
Commercial property agency CBRE acted on behalf of Bazaarvoice to acquire the office at McAuley House.
Stephen Donnelly, senior software development manager at Bazaarvoice, said it was "a natural choice" for the company to open a larger office in Belfast.
"The city offers an extremely attractive investment proposition for FDI (foreign direct investment) for many reasons, but none more so than the talent pool," he said.
"There is a huge wealth of burgeoning talent and a thriving tech scene here and we are delighted with the quality of the indigenous workforce we have assembled."
David Wright, office agency director at CBRE, said the company wanted office space that could help build greater "connectivity between its people".
"This meant providing high-end, flexible office accommodation that incorporates many different breakout zones, as well as areas for both formal and spontaneous meetings," he said.
"Innovative companies, like Bazaarvoice, demand more efficient and collaborative working spaces to attract and retain stellar talent, which is exactly what this property offers."
CBRE’s building consultancy team in Belfast, which was established last year, was appointed by Bazaarvoice to monitor the fit-out of the new office.
Fiona Martyn, associate director at CBRE, said the company had a clear vision of how it wanted the office to look.
"Our brief included bright open spaces that encouraged collaboration, high-acoustic performances in meeting rooms, and the inclusion of a nursing room and comfortable chill out areas," she said.
"We were within weeks of completion when the historic Bank Buildings fire occurred, leaving significant programme challenges as the building was left as part of the restricted access zone in the vicinity.
"We worked closely with Bazaarvoice, the landlord and the design team to split the office move into two phases until we regained full access to the entire office suite."
