Conservation and Historic – Moylan

The Little Museum of Dublin

kheard — Thu, 20 Nov 2025 10:04:03 +0000

The Little Museum of Dublin, located in a Georgian townhouse at 15 St Stephen’s Green, underwent a transformative €4.3 million redevelopment for over two years.

The refurbishment enhanced the museum’s visitor experience and operational capacity, positioning it as a flagship cultural site in central Dublin.

Jointly funded by Fáilte Ireland, the Department of Tourism and Culture, Dublin City Council, and private and corporate donors, the project supported the museum’s long-term growth as a tourism and education asset.

Working in partnership with conservation architects Deaton Lysaght, our team provided full structural and MEP engineering services for the redevelopment. A key feature of the project was the design and installation of a striking four-storey lift structure, framed in steel and clad in glass, to ensure inclusive access to all levels of the museum. The substructure included a 550mm-deep raft foundation set into stiff clay and reinforced concrete walls forming the lift pit. Above ground, the superstructure comprised a steel frame supporting the glass cladding, with vertical loads transferred through SHS columns and UC beams. Lateral stability was achieved via vertical diagonal bracing and structural connections anchoring the lift shaft to the existing building.

The scheme included a full revamp of the mechanical and electrical systems to provide a comfortable and welcoming internal environment, overcoming the challenges of working within a protected structure.

Life safety systems such as fire alarms and emergency escape routes were prioritised, and the lighting design was delivered in close collaboration with interior designers and specialist suppliers to meet both aesthetic and functional requirements. Additional drainage and access improvements were implemented to support long-term resilience and improved visitor flow.

The refurbishment facilitated the expansion of the museum’s artefact collection, sourced from the Irish public, and enabled the reimagining of popular displays. Highlights included the Made in Dublin music room featuring a maquette of Vera Klute’s Luke Kelly statue, a basement garden with a historic K1 telephone box, a stairwell dedicated to former Dublin Lord Mayor Alfie Byrne, and a first-floor gallery overlooking St Stephen’s Green that chronicled Dublin’s history from Victorian times through Little Jerusalem, Oscar Wilde, Nelson’s Pillar and the 1916 revolution. New additions also included a youth education space, a reception area, and a patio for outdoor events.

Sustainability and longevity were central to the design approach. Scalable infrastructure and flexible programming reduced the need for future structural changes, aligning with environmental and social sustainability goals.

Waterman Moylan wins at the Irish Construction Excellence awards

lrichards — Mon, 12 May 2025 09:51:57 +0000

Waterman Moylan was announced as the winner in the ‘Engineering Design Excellence (over €40m)’ category at the Irish Construction Excellence Awards for their innovative design of the major redevelopment of Clerys Quarter.

This award recognises the innovative engineering and restoration behind the transformation of this mixed-use department store.

Originally built in 1922, the historic Clerys department store has been thoughtfully reimagined through a major refurbishment and extension, transforming it into a vibrant new destination for retail, office, and leisure. Delivered by Oakmount in partnership with Europa Capital and Core Capital, the project combined meticulous restoration with a contemporary vertical extension and full-site redevelopment, breathing new life into one of Dublin’s most iconic landmarks.

Working alongside architect, Henry J Lyons and Glenbrier Construction, the team provided civil and structural engineering designs which maximised the potential of the redevelopment, whilst preserving this historic building for future generations.

Key works included the careful removal of non-original building elements to restore the protected structure to its original 1922 architectural character. Levels 03 and 04 behind the historic stone façade were removed and replaced with three new floors, supported by new concrete cores and topped with a bespoke curved roof structure, all constructed over an upgraded basement.

The development also introduced the new six-storey Earl Building, constructed over the footprint of the original 1970s store. In total, Clerys Quarter delivers 32,000 sqm of high-quality space.

Click here to learn more about this multi award-winning development.

St. Mel’s Cathedral

admin — Tue, 30 Aug 2022 14:53:43 +0000

Waterman Moylan was appointed by loss adjusters acting for insurers to provide emergency engineering, carrying out the intervention, salvage and temporary protection and stabilisation works following the catastrophic fire damage at St. Mel’s Cathedral in Longford, which occurred on 25 December 2009.

The scope of work involved the making safe of the site for clearance works and the supervision of the temporary works to support the remaining structure during this process.

As part of the services provided, we organised the salvage of relics and other objects from the Cathedral museum and the salvage and restoration of the two Harry Clarke stained glass windows in the east and west transepts.

Additionally, the scope of the project has evolved to incorporate the provision of temporary facilities for the congregation at St. Mel’s College, adjacent to the Cathedral, to help facilitate the increased volume of pedestrian traffic due to the temporary relocation of Church services to the College.

Client: St Mels Cathedral/OSG Loss Adjusters

O’Connell Street General Post Office

admin — Tue, 30 Aug 2022 14:49:21 +0000

The original General Post Office was completed in 1817 and is the last of the great Georgian buildings erected in Dublin. The main building structure is in granite while the fine portico is constructed of Portland stone.

Waterman Moylan was commissioned to provide conservation and restoration engineering services for the entire front façade of the building including the portico.

The façade of the building had suffered significant deterioration due to a combination of environmental conditions and due to the corrosion and expansion of ferrous clamps and ties used in the original construction. The expansion caused extensive cracking and spalling of the stonework particularly at the higher levels of the façade. The Portland stone flat arch at the side of the portico was badly affected and major structural repair and restoration works had to be undertaken in this area.

Conservation measures adopted included the complete reconstruction of the front façade above the level of the second-floor windows, the replacement of the clamps and ties using stainless steel, the dismantling and reconstruction of the lower level of the flat arch at the side of the portico, the careful removal of the original statues over the portico and their replacement with exact replica statues using a special process developed in conjunction with a Dutch company.

Client: An Post (Irish Post Service)
Architect: Austin Dunphy & Partners