TU Dublin Student Library and Administrative Offices

Park House, a 1970’s-built office building, housed several of TU Dublin’s Administrative Departments and other Government Bodies. As part of the re-location of TU Dublin (previously the DIT Colleges) to the new Grangegorman Campus, Park House was internally re-developed to provide a Temporary Library for TU Dublin students, over three floors (4500sqm). Three additional floors were re-developed for office accommodation and services. Total floor area 7500sqm.

The existing building is a concrete frame structure with very low floor to soffit heights on some of the floors. The original structure was of poor quality and condition. The external corrugated plastic clad wall and single glazed aluminium windows had to be retained. The design strategy undertaken was to strip the building back to bare concrete shell internally retaining the external skin. As the external façade was fragile, an inner structural shaft wall (with fire breaks at each floor) was constructed. This addressed many concerns, including, structural fragility, fire safety and protection issues, and thermal insulation. It also future proofed the building, as subsequent upgrades to the external facade and windows will have limited impact on building operations. Where possible, soffit and services remained exposed to maximise floor to ceiling heights.

The project involved integration with landlord systems, design solution to ventilation and cooling of deep floor plan, meeting rooms and other internal rooms and landlord approval of proposal. Significant fire upgrade works were required to address widespread fire protection issues. Universal access throughout.