The project comprised car parking, garages and storage buildings, as well as the two-storey, 490 sqm main building. The ground floor includes a reception area, detention cells and interview rooms. The first floor is office and support facilities for the Gardai including offices, interview rooms, recreational and dining facilities.

The building was constructed in loadbearing masonry on concrete strip foundations, with the roof structure constructed in timber trusses. Timber and steel framing was used for feature areas such as the lightwell and the corner main entrance.

Client: Office of Public Works
Architect: Dalton + O’Donnell Architects

The Garage Theatre was formed as a joint venture between Monaghan Vocational Education Committee and Monaghan Dramatic Society. As part of the new Monaghan Education Campus developed between 2010 and 2012, the current modern home for the theatre was designed and delivered.

The theatre is a 1,940 sqm two-storey over basement facility incorporating a 300-seat auditorium with ten wheelchair spaces. Seating is retractable, providing a completely flexible space. The Theatre also includes a 75-seat studio space with sprung floor, a visual art studio and gallery, three large dressing rooms, administrative offices, a bar and café and a generous, double height public foyer and reception. 300 car parking spaces are also provided for use by patrons of the facility.

Clad externally in a dark grey brick, the building features large picture windows set in exposed concrete structural walls, providing views over the surrounding rural landscape. An external stage is incorporated into the space around the building, facilitating open air performances.

Waterman Moylan provided all civil, traffic and structural engineering services from initial master planning to completion of construction.

Client: Monaghan VEC
Architect: Oppermann Associates/Hawkins Brown

The scheme included for a 260 sqm extension to the rear and side of the existing building across two floors. Upgrading works were also carried out to the original building, including provision of new floors and roof in addition to the installation of a new lift. The new space provides for offices, meeting rooms and exhibition space.

Ground conditions at the site were very poor, comprising layers of loose sands and soft silts overlaying gravel, and low vibration piled foundations were used to support the new building. The superstructure comprises a glazed wall at ground floor with an in-situ concrete box structure used for the first floor and roof construction, giving the appearance that the building is ‘floating’ over the exhibition space.

Client: Fingal County Council
Architect: FKL Architect

The works included a featured cantilevered steelwork first-floor structure to act as a viewing platform, permitting the public to view the Medieval Wall, as well as complete refurbishment and fit out to what was a damp, underutilised space.

Cantilevered retaining walls were constructed to form an external courtyard area at basement level with stairs access to ground floor podium slab level.

Given the level of the water table on site along with the major opening in the basement slab accommodating the Medieval Wall, achieving the desired watertight basement was not possible. Specialised cavity and floor drain systems, tanking membranes and sump pumps employed achieved the desired level of water and damp protection to the space.