Grafton Architects + Shaffrey Associates selected for Parnell Square Cultural Quarter

Dublin City Council and the Parnell Square Foundation have announced that Grafton Architects + Shaffrey Associates, are selected as the preferred Design Team to deliver on an ambitious design brief set for the redevelopment of Parnell Square Cultural Quarter (PSCQ), as a new cultural landmark for Dublin. The centre-piece of the Quarter will be the development of over 11,000m2, anchored by a new City library which will offer a mix of cultural facilities for Dublin at the former Coláiste Mhuire site and some adjacent properties. Seed capital for the project is being provided by international real estate investment and services company, Kennedy Wilson, on a philanthropic basis. The company, which has its main European office in Dublin, will continue to provide expertise to assist in management and funding of the development through the Parnell Square Foundation.

The proposed appointment follows a public procurement process to select an outstanding architect-led multi-disciplinary design team, capable of providing all the architectural, conservation, engineering and contract management services required, to deliver on the redevelopment vision. It is anticipated that design work to planning application will be completed for submission by early Summer 2015.

According to Ali Grehan, City Architect, ‘It is recognition of the strength of Irish design that Grafton Architects with Shaffrey Associates are successful in a very talented field of national and international practices to deliver this pivotal project. The Parnell Square development offers a unique opportunity to marry our signature historic Dublin architecture with a new 21st century architecture to create something extraordinary for all Dubliners.’

Yvonne Farrell representing Grafton Architects + Shaffrey Associates said, ‘on behalf of Grafton Architects + Shaffrey Architects and our whole Design Team, we are delighted and honoured to have been chosen for this prestigious Project. This is a real belief in city and in imagination! Belief in cities is expressed by making public space and public buildings. This Project to revitalise the Parnell Square Cultural Quarter has a City Library at its core. A City Library says so much about a city. It shows how a city values citizens, from its most senior to its youngest. This type of Project is a real civic investment. The task is to make architecture unique to Dublin, which will add a 21st. century layer to beautiful, south-facing 18th century buildings.’

PSCQ will be a landmark destination which will complete the Civic Spine of Dublin at its northern end. The Civic Spine route includes the Grafton Street and Henry Street prime retail areas, important third level institutions and major cultural and tourism destinations. It will also be the connecter for extending this route north into the new Dublin Institute of Technology Campus at Grangegorman.

A mix of new buildings and renovated historic buildings, integrated with the existing Dublin City Gallery, The Hugh Lane will emerge from the project. The complex of historic buildings is of high architectural significance and will require appropriate care in its design treatment. The north side of Parnell Square will be re-landscaped to provide a high quality external public events space. Grafton Architects + Shaffrey Associates bring a wealth of expertise to deliver the challenging design brief, merging contemporary design with the conservation, adaptation and extension of an historic Georgian terrace and new buildings in this City centre setting.

The former Coláiste Mhuire buildings are currently in the process of being transferred from the Office of Public Works to Dublin City Council. Dublin City Council is the owner of the Hugh Lane gallery situated between the Coláiste Mhuire buildings and Numbers 20-21 Parnell Square. It is intended that the Hugh Lane Gallery will form part of the overall Parnell Square Cultural offering and it will be significantly enhanced and its role and impact expanded by the development of this new City Library/Cultural Centre.

The additional members of the multi-disciplinary team include
Landscape Architect: Bernard Seymour Landscape Architect and Karen Foley
Conservation Architect: Shaffrey Associates
Structural & civil, mechanical & electrical and acoustic engineers: Arup
Health & Safety PSDP: Willis Risk Management