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Winner of the Entrepreneur of the Year Award at the All-Ireland Business Awards in May, Joe McGinley, CEO and founder of Iconic Offices, is on the crest of a wave with the opening of two more breathtaking flexible workspace office buildings in 2019.
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rom its impressive glass-roofed courtyard with three-storey mural by street artist Aches to the adaptable meeting rooms and bright communal areas, The Masonry on Thomas Street in Dublin 8 really does have the wow factor when it comes to workspace design. Right down to the trios of ornamental ducks wearing wellies here and there and the brass door handles in the bathrooms, it is an environment that continually stimulates and feels conducive to creativity. Formerly the IAWS headquarters and a seed warehouse dating back to 1780, The Masonry is the latest building to be opened by flexible workspace provider Iconic Offices, bringing its portfolio of buildings in Dublin up to 15. Work on the project from a design, planning and structural perspective started over two years ago. Contemporary features such as black walls and aubergine and yellow seating have been combined with reminders of the building’s heritage, including exposed brick and a seed drawer running the length of one wall, which was found in the original warehouse. “The Masonry is one of our most exciting and largest locations to date, spanning over 70,000 sq ft and six floors and with a capacity for 900 work stations. We have 50% of the project delivered in the first phase, including the large reception area, Vandal our onsite café, restaurant and event space, two internal courtyards, all of the meeting rooms and most of the breakout spaces,” says Joe McGinley, CEO and founder, Iconic Offices, who started the business in 2013. “After a month of opening, half of our capacity is filled now with a diverse range of companies signed up, from sole traders to an electric scooter manufacturer, software developers and a legal firm. Our belief is that a healthy business community is diverse and this will foster collaboration.” InBUSINESS | SUMMER 2019
