2 minute read
New Moves
Gráinne Rothery talks to Martin Shanahan as IDA Ireland looks to the future from a different perspective: its new global headquarters in Dublin city centre, Three Park Place.
WORDS BY Gráinne Rothery
The panoramic view from IDA Ireland’s brand new offices at Three Park Place is of a modern Dublin skyline punctuated by cranes – 50 to be exact, half of the total number in the capital at the moment. It is a fitting reflection of the extent of construction activity around the country and the inextricable link between IDA Ireland and the contracting industry. Walking into the reception area of the agency’s new global headquarters on the eighth floor, you would be forgiven for thinking you were in one of its hightech multinational client’s offices. There is an immediate sense of style, sophistication and quality.
“Everything we have done with the building was with the aim of giving our clients an experience and to allow us to do business as efficiently and effectively as we can,” says IDA Ireland CEO Martin Shanahan when we meet in the ‘Binchy Room’, named after writer Maeve Binchy. Indeed all of the rooms are named after Irish writers, artists and musicians, a nice touch which clients are taken with so far. Having been based at Wilton Park House for 35 years, IDA Ireland relocated to Three Park Place in mid-September on time and on budget having pursued a strong focus on value for money for the Exchequer during the process. The 35- year lease on Wilton Park House expired on 31 October 2019. “This move was one of necessity, not choice, as it wasn’t possible to renew our existing lease. Following a thorough and competitive tendering process, Three Park Place was selected with a lease of 25 years,” Shanahan explains. Striving to ensure economies of scale for the Exchequer at every opportunity with this move, IDA Ireland is also facilitating and accommodating the relocation of three other State agencies to Three Park Place – Science Foundation Ireland (SFI), the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) and the Marine Institute.
