Work has now started on a new £18.5m visitor centre at the Giant's Causeway World Heritage Site in County Antrim, Northern Ireland.

Dublin-based architects heneghan.peng are behind the design of the facility, which has received £3m from the Heritage Lottery Fund and £4m from the National Trust (NT). Gilbert-Ash has been chosen to lead the project, which also involves McConnell Stone; Metaltech; Mastercraft; Vaughan's; and Hynd's Architectural Systems.

Event Communications will develop the interpretive design of the centre, which is also funded by the Northern Ireland Tourist Board (£9.25m). Northern Irish tourism minister Arlene Foster said: "This facility will provide an impressive state-of-the art building that will attract local and overseas visitors."

NT director for Northern Ireland Hilary McGrady added: "We are really excited by the prospect of having these new facilities open by summer 2012."