Share this article:
Office developments don’t usually come as complicated as this one by Collen Construction, which encompassed 30, 31 and 32 Molesworth Street and Schoolhouse Lane East, Dublin 2, writes Joanna Kiernan.
Collen’s Office development at Molesworth Street and Schoolhouse Lane East took sixteen months to complete, including a six week delay due to ground contamination.
The project involved the construction of a new infill office development of four storeys in height, over basement with a gross floor area of 3,744 sq. metres, which had to incorporate a car lift for access to 10 car parking spaces and 40 bicycle spaces.
Works to the protected structure at numbers 30-32 Molesworth Street included the reinstatement of the arched windows to the mid-landings of the stairs, repairs to surrounding facades, reinstatement of timber sash windows to all existing aluminium/PVC windows, internal remedial works to reinstate the integrity of the buildings; reinstatement of original window openings to the rear and replacement of non-period windows with contemporary windows reflecting the new build design.
“The greatest challenge with this project was the location of the site within the tight city centre environs and the fact that we were constrained to a single tower crane due to full site coverage and adjacent to live environments with residents and local businesses in place,” Derek McCaffrey Senior Contracts Manager with Collen said. “Strategies were employed to mitigate the constraints, constant communication was key.”
At the busiest point in the project, a total of 110 people were working on the site and to manage logistics, innovative ‘Just In Time’ strategies were put in place.
Specialist works included Preprufe tanking systems by Baridek Services, curtain walling systems used in the link atrium and internal atrium by Raico, complete restoration of existing sliding sash widows on No. 32 and installation of replica sash windows to rear of 30 and 31, carried out by Callaghan Sash Windows, plasterwork sensitively restored by Paul Griffen Plastering, a single storey Car lift installed by Swisspark and two lifts from basement to the third floor installed by Kone.
“We were very proud to deliver another successful project for an existing client of 20 years,” Derek McCaffrey said. “Managing the restoration works on the 18th Century Georgian building in tandem with new construction works and combining the two buildings in a seamless fashion made for an interesting mix on the development.”
Client: Green REIT
Architect: Reddy Architecture
Civil & Structural Engineer: Cronin & Sutton Consulting
Services Engineer: AXIS Engineering
Quantity Surveyor: KSN Construction Consultants