Education – Moylan

Mount Temple Comprehensive School Development

lrichards — Thu, 20 Nov 2025 10:27:40 +0000

The new Mount Temple Comprehensive School development, located on the grounds of the existing campus on Malahide Road, Clontarf, Dublin 3 is due for completion in Q4 2026. This project will deliver a 10,685 sqm post-primary facility designed to accommodate 1,200 pupils.

Spanning 9.49 hectares, the scheme involves the phased demolition of six existing buildings totalling 6,251 sqm, consolidating all school activities into a single new building. It also includes a separate 20-classroom Special Educational Needs (SEN) facility for St Michael’s House, complete with play areas, traffic management measures and associated site works. The new facility spans over 2.02 hectares and is carefully integrated around existing astro-trug pitches and protected structures.

Waterman Moylan was appointed by the Department of Education to provide full civil and structural engineering services, working in close collaboration with Wejchert Architects, Mythen Construction Ltd as main contractor, KSN and Varming Consulting Engineers Ltd. Five of the buildings scheduled for demolition are currently in use by the school, including the 1960s Mount Temple Hall, the maths block and two prefabricated units, while a disused sports pavilion is located to the south of the site. To minimise disruption to the live school environment, the project team implemented a carefully sequenced demolition strategy that allows education to continue uninterrupted throughout the construction period. Dual access points from the northern and southern boundaries support efficient logistics, and a clear separation between the existing and new school areas enables phased construction and a smooth transition of pupils from the old to the new buildings.

The historic Mount Temple House and its iconic clock tower, dating back to the early 1860s, were carefully considered early in the design process. Sightlines and clearances guided the placement of the new school building, with a tiered terrace area installed between the Malahide and Howth Road entrances to form the footprint. To accommodate the site’s existing terraces and ensure full accessibility, the design incorporates a series of internal and external retaining walls, along with a sloping boulevard integrated into the landscaping to comply with Part M of the Building Regulations. Planning conditions required measures to ensure privacy and separation from neighbouring properties, and the site’s steep topography necessitated the design of a retaining wall and boundary fence along the western elevation. The design of this wall also protects a line of sensitive mature trees, with mini piles used to minimise disruption to their roots.

Several unique structural elements have been incorporated into the final design, including feature bow string trusses and skylights in the new sports hall, a three-storey entrance atrium, and a cantilevered library with a prominent staircase overlooking the atrium. The scheme also includes an external store, ESB substation and switch room, 72 car parking spaces, new site lighting and associated hard and soft landscaping.

Sustainability is central to the design, with photovoltaic panels installed along the southern elevation and a sustainable urban drainage system (SuDS) integrated into the site. An underground attenuation tank manages stormwater runoff efficiently, and, in line with the government’s Low Carbon Design requirements introduced in 2024, all concrete used on site incorporates a minimum of 30% Ground Granulated Blast Furnace Slag (GGBS), significantly reducing the carbon footprint of the construction process.

Kieran O’Neill wins two Fingal Mayor’s Community Volunteer Awards

admin — Wed, 28 Dec 2022 10:53:47 +0000

Congratulations to our Kieran O’Neill who has won in the Community Facilities Category as well as the overall Fingal Mayor’s Community Volunteer Award for his contributions to Castleknock Community Centre.

Built in 1995, the centre promotes the cultural and educational development of young people including physical education and sporting activities to develop and promote community facilities.

The project included a new meeting room, the extension of an existing small meeting room into a larger activity room, expanding the seating area of the coffee shop to create a comfortable informal space, infrastructure upgrades replacing the main electrical distribution board and providing an increased gas supply for two boilers.

The Award acknowledges the efforts made by individuals who contribute positively to their communities in Fingal through active citizenship, increasing social cohesion and integration, the provision of community facilities and promotion of sports, culture and the arts in their area.

There were five Award categories: Social Inclusion, Active Citizenship, Creative Arts, Culture and Heritage, Community Facilities and Sport and Recreation. There was also the Unsung Hero Special Recognition Award, the People’s Choice Award and the Overall Fingal Mayor’s Community Volunteer Award which was selected from the five category winners.

The Awards are an initiative of Mayor of Fingal, Cllr Mary McCamley, and are supported by Fingal County Council, Community, Culture and Sports Division and Fingal Public Participation Network (PPN).

Congratulating the winners in each category, Mayor McCamley said; “In Fingal, there are so many active and dedicated volunteers who make a huge difference to their communities. The impact they have on social, environmental and recreational well-being in our towns and communities is hugely positive and I am delighted we have the opportunity to recognise them.”

Catherine Cody, Castleknock Community Centre Manager, commented; “Kieran took ownership of the project from start to finish, prepared the case for a successful youth café grant application, tender for Architectural and engineering services, ensuring staff and centre users were involved in the design of the extension.”

Presentation College

admin — Tue, 30 Aug 2022 15:13:45 +0000

Waterman Moylan was appointed by the Board of Management of the 600 pupil Presentation College as part of the design team for the school’s refurbishment and extension in Bray, Co. Wicklow. Our team provided civil and structural engineering services.

The development’s masterplanning and options study indicated that it would be better to replace the existing main school block in its entirety rather than upgrading and extending, as this would provide a much more modern and integrated facility conducive to purpose for relatively little additional cost.

The project included the construction of a new three-storey school teaching block and associated facilities as well as upgrading to the existing Sports Hall, and demolition of the existing school building when the building was complete.

The development was winner of the 2013 RIAI Best Educational Building Award.

Client: Board of Management, Presentation College
Architect: Paul Keogh Architects

Monaghan Multi-User Education Campus

admin — Tue, 30 Aug 2022 15:10:12 +0000

The Monaghan Multi-User Education campus includes a primary school, a post-primary college and a tertiary-level college of further education, all situated on a brownfield site.

The integrated campus accommodates a total student population of 1,700 and takes maximum advantage of shared facilities. A single multi-purpose sport centre services all three educational institutions and all-weather playing pitches, tennis courts and other facilities for shared use.

An innovative roof top play area for infants is provided on the primary school flat roof. Glazed walling around the perimeter of the roof eliminates any risk to the children.

The project has also provided extensive community facilities including a new 200-seat theatre. Waterman Moylan was appointed to provide full civil and structural engineering services from initial masterplan to completion of the project.

Client: Monaghan VEC
Architect: Oppermann Associates