Construction Ireland Vol 16 no 5

Choosing modern heat pump technology with inverter pays off PAGE 4-5

Also inside this issue...

V16 N05

NEWS, REPORTS, COMMENTS, PROFILES AND SITE PROJECTS BENNETT CONSTRUCTION LTD A legacy of construction excellence p15

THE MORRISON HOTEL Opened following E7M refurbishment p25

ANTRIM BOROUGH COUNCIL The Public Realm Scheme p32

ST MEL’S CATHEDRAL Rising from the ashes p57

SALES & TESTING OF CRANES MOBILE & CRAWLER TELEHANDLERS, EXCAVATORS AND ALL LIFTING EQUIPMENT Gerard Lucey Forrest, Coachford, Co. Cork Telephone/Fax: 026 48091 Mobile: 087 2452507 E-mail: glmcs@eircom.net

COMMENTS 12 Turley Associates – Angela Dunbar & Matt Spilsbury 13 Simieo – Ollie McGovern

LEISURE 16 Limerick Riverside Improvements 25 The Morrison Hotel 54 Kinsale Yacht Club

PROFILE

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15 17 32 34 44 64

Bennett Construction Ltd JMW Farms Antrim Borough Council Spraoi Linn McGurran Construction Anello Architects

CIVIL N40 Ring Road Patrickswell Sewerage Scheme Greystones Harbour Tullamore Grand Canal Corridor Monaincha Wind Farm Five Villages Sewerage Scheme Roscommon Towns & Villages Sewerage Scheme 43 Longford Central RWSS 48 Oranmore Train Station 66 River Dargle Flood Defence Scheme

26 29 31 35 36 41 42

COMMERCIAL 14 Allergan Production Facility 30 Suretank Ltd 35 Navan Enterprise Centre

EDUCATION 14 62 63 63

Alexandra College Gaelscoil Moshiolog Fas Training Centre Ardscoil Ris

COMMUNITY 38 Mount Stewart Visitor Centre 57 St Mel’s Cathedral

HOUSING 40 Riverside Nursing Home 56 Bunratty Road

HEALTH

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52 Ulster Hospital

NEWS

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57 Editors Gareth Trevor-Jones Victoria Lee Staff Writer John Train Editorial Raimy Greenland Robert Atherton

Website hits for June 378,387

Studio Manager Séamus Norton Designer Richard Gill Proof Reader Matthew Brown Approvals Remi Wilson Administrator Emma Pollard Credit Control Carol Ryan

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Choosing modern heat pump technology with inverter pays off What are the main advantages and practical consequences of using the latest AIR-WATER heat pump driven by inverter/frequency converter? How much more is this type of heat pump efficient, in what modes and why?

There have been many articles written on heat pumps, but frequency converter/inverter is still something unique.

Different and better heat pump technology Why are frequency converters still not part of every heat pump? The reason why frequency converters are absent in some heat pumps is the lack of manufacturers' flexibility as well as somewhat conservative thinking. Some companies and engineering offices have been using tried methods for years and if you ask them about something new, the answer you get is the following: “That's not how it's done, this is the way to do it...” And this is precisely the road we are not going to take. We prefer to employ innovative solutions that lead to higher operational efficiency of the AC Heating heat pump as well as to lower cost.

Electric expansion valve leads to higher efficiency The power of the heat pump, the mechanism itself, can be adjusted with the frequency converter. The altered rotation speed of the compressor and the supply rate of the coolant that flows in the cooling circuit results in the need for precise expansion valve control. The employment of electric expansion valve with a sophisticated control system that increases effectivity becomes a necessity.

Overdimensioned evaporator = decreased icing risk = higher efficiency That an air-water heat pump has the hardest time when facing icing in temperatures around the freezing point is a well known fact. During the heating season, there are a lot of days like this. Fog, air humidity, evaporator temperatures slightly below zero, these are all ideal conditions for icing.

That is a pity because the heat loss of a building is still relatively low in these temperatures and the heat pump would not have to operate at full power if it was equipped with a frequency converter. What happens when the compressor rotation speed decreases and with it the use of the evaporator? The evaporator becomes overdimensioned and therefore warmer and the icing is formed much more slowly.As far as efficiency is concerned, the most significant factor is the decreased number of defrosting cycles, a very negative phenomenon considering the year-long heat factor.

No storage tank = lowest possible heating temperature = higher efficiency What was the function of a storage tank in heat pumps without frequency converter? It actually was not used to provide heat but to store extra, unnecessary heat generated by the classical heat pump in previous seasons (spring, autumn), it prevented the unwanted fast temperature increase and obviously decreased the heat pump cycling in these seasons.

Moreover, the storage tank is big and will not fit everywhere. Thanks to the frequency converter technology, we can eliminate this aspect that compensates for the imperfection of the system behavior in most heating systems.

As a consequence, we can also use the AC Heating heat pump to run at the lowest possible temperature which is enabled by the precise power adjustment.

We must realize that the outlet water temperature is a result of the equilibrium between the supplied heat (the output) and the capacity of the heating system to radiate this heat (output) into the building.

Therefore, if we want to adjust the output power value by switching the heat source on and off and storing this heat in the storage tank and by mixing it further, the storage tank temperature must be higher in order to have something to mix. Again, it is a compromise between the size of the storage tank and the level of temperature variation, that is the number of startups of the compressor in a given period of time.

Reliable regulation = higher efficiency There are also systems that operate with invariable temperature (e.g. 50°C) in the storage tank. This solution is an example of an inefficient system that maltreats the compressor and decreases its life span; the outlet temperature corresponds by analogy to the outlet pressure of the compressor. Efficient systems produce heat while always running at the lowest possible temperature necessary at a particular moment.

Quasi-equitherm control, for instance, is an optimal solution that takes into account both the outside and the required and set temperatures for AC Heating heat pumps of the Convert AWxx series.

AC Heating heat pump can be overdimensioned, which lowers the bivalence point resulting in fewer direct electric heating hours = higher efficiency Thanks to the fact that AC Heating heat pumps have a relatively wide regulation band, the system can be

overdimensioned unlike classical heat pumps that tend to be underdimensioned.

Oil boiler is without doubt the least effective heat source. That is why we try to minimize the time oil boiler has to be running or to eliminate it from the system completely. There are houses, however, and quite a few of them, that were using the AC Heating heat pump of the Convert AWxx series for the whole duration of last year's tough winter without bivalence. To operate a system like this is much more efficient than operating underdimensioned heat pumps that often have to switch on the expensive reserve bivalent source.

No unnecessary parts, cheaper operation Thanks to the elimination of storage tanks and even oil boilers, additional circulation pumps or mixers in houses with low heat loss, the inverter-driven heat pump is a better deal with lower purchase and installation costs. The boiler room that accommodates the frequency converter heat pump consist only of a compact inside unit mounted on the wall and connected to the heating system with two pipes.

Operational Experience Many customers have confirmed very good characteristics of these systems. An average year-long heat factor higher than 4 is a matter of course even if we include half of this year's relatively cold heating season in the calculation. The heat factor of 2,4 measured in -10°C speaks for itself.

Other heat pumps are already off under such conditions transferring the role to the inbuilt electric boiler with a heat factor 1, while the overdimensioned AC Heating heat pump with frequency converter continues to run effectively.

Noise level is also reduced because the heat pump runs at lower than maximum power for most of the time, continuously without switching on and off.

When installing the inverter-driven heat pump, the hydraulic connection, a possible reserve heat source integrated in the heating system or the regulation of the whole system must be considered carefully.

Our AC Heating team will be happy to answer these questions. You can contact us either directly or through the request form on our website www.acheating.ie Our heat pumps come with a 7 year warranty on parts and labour!

Most energy efficient heating system available on today’s market Our company is engaged in the development, manufacture and installation of air to water heat pumps with inverter technology. Our heat pumps are equipped with high-end components such as: Toshiba twin rotary compressor, Alfa laval heat exchangers, Siemens electronics etc., which makes it possible to reach the highest possible efficiency achievable with the air-water systems.

The key to achieving such a result is our completely unique management system xCC®, which ensures that the heat energy which is so efficiently produced, is even more efficiently delivered to its destination.

Our unique controls xCC can on the site of the heat pumps control a number of circuits: The heating circuit with standard radiators Mixed heating circuits based on the curve controlled by the outdoor temperature Domestic hot water Swimming pool water Pool hall Pool filtration Bivalent / back-up Solar panels Solid fuel boilers The control system xCC® is adapted by our programmers for each specific application and completely takes over the function of the BMS systems currently used in commercial and private sectors, and completely eliminates the presence of “buffer tanks” in the heating systems.

There is therefore no need to waste capital for various control components of the heating systems (such as “systemlink” and others). All circuits are controlled from our unique controls xCC®.

Also, at customer's request, we can manage other circuits such as lighting, electric gates, retracting blinds etc.

The whole system can be controlled via internet, tablet or smartphone.

The biggest savings are achieved when replacing oil or LPG systems.

From our past experience, the following areas reach the highest savings: Leisure Centres, Nursing Homes, Pig Farms, Historical buildings, Hospitals, ordinary domestic houses etc, etc.

In the past, we were able to save over 90% on heating costs in some cases.

Our team of professionals incl. electricians, refrigeration engineers,computer specialists, CAD technicians and plumbers will ensure 100% satisfactory of our customers.

Please call for free quotation References on request.

No.3 Westgate Business Park, Dungarvan, Co.Waterford

WWW.ACHEATING.IE

Tel: 058 23 749 E-mail: Smarterheating@gmail.com

NEWS CI

Rural development programme delivering for rural tourism Providing world class rural tourist facilities in the north is an essential component of the Rural Development Programme.

That was the message from Rural Development Minister Michelle O’Neill as she visited camping pods in Cushendall funded in partnership between Moyle Council and Axis 3 of the NI Rural Development Programme.

Moyle Council was successful in being awarded £352,886 for the project, which was to create additional pontoons at Rathlin Harbour, creation of a watersports stop-off point at Dunsevrick and provision of camping pods at Cushendall.

The Minister said: “A key aim of the Rural Development Programme is to create high quality tourist accommodation in rural areas and this is an excellent example of an innovative alternative to the camping product on the North Coast. The project will also provide appropriate modern facilities for those engaged in water-based tourism, such as sailing, kayaking etc, and will increase visitor numbers to these areas and provide a much needed economic spin-off for local businesses along the North Antrim coastline and on Rathlin Island itself.

“This is one of 32 strategic projects, totalling over £17M, that my Department

is supporting across the north. They are helping to boost investment in rural areas and maximise the drawdown of the EU funding available. In addition to stimulating the economy in rural areas, they are also providing much needed support to our local construction sector, which has suffered greatly during the economic downturn.”

Public consultation on the draft NI Rural Development Programme 2014–2020 was launched on 1st July 2013 and will remain open for 16 weeks, closing at 5pm on 21st October 2013.

MOD enters final phase of Scotland and Northern Ireland estate procurement

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Private sector bidders are on the final lap of a race for a contract to manage Defence facilities across Scotland and Northern Ireland, following approval by HM Treasury of a key business case.

The Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) has invited final tenders for the Regional Prime Scotland & Northern Ireland from Carillion Enterprise Ltd, Interserve (Defence) Ltd, Babcock Support Services Ltd and TurnerHenry. The contract will be used to deliver repair and maintenance services, with the capability to inject minor capital projects up to £3.93M in value.

Since April 2012 the DIO’s Next Generation

Estate Contracts (NGEC) team has engaged these organisations in ‘competitive dialogue’, exploring and optimising their planned approach to delivering key services.

Following formal approval by HM Treasury and the MOD Investment Approval Committee (IAC) of the business case, the bidders have now been invited to submit their final tenders. These will include detailed plans for development of commercial supply chains and subcontracting arrangements, and the bidders’ intended approach to a number of activities including land management services that are currently delivered in-house.

The tenders will then undergo a detailed evaluation process and DIO expects the contract to be in service by mid-2014.

John Brennan, the Regional Prime Scotland & Northern Ireland Project Manager, said: “DIO’s priority is to support our Armed Forces as they prepare for operations. It is vital that Defence bases in Northern Ireland and Scotland receive excellent facilities management services that will also be affordable through the life of the contract. I am delighted that with Treasury approval we can now advance to the final stage of this procurement process.”

Priority status given to new FoynesLimerick road scheme Limerick City and County Council has commenced the procurement of Engineering Consultancy Services for a proposed new road linking the Port of Foynes in West Limerick with the M7/N18 at Limerick City.

The N69 National Secondary Road currently connects Foynes to Limerick along 32km of single carriageway. However, the Foynes to Limerick Road Improvement Scheme will provide improved access to the Port of Foynes and support the envisaged expansion of its capacity and usage as outlined in the government’s National Ports Policy 2013. Upgrading the road infrastructure to the Port of Foynes from Limerick is also a key recommendation in the Shannon Foynes Port Company Masterplan Vision 2041, published earlier this year.

Welcoming the announcement, Cathaoirleach of Limerick County Council John Sheahan said: “This road scheme and the expansion of the Port of Foynes have the potential to support sustainable economic growth and deliver employment for Limerick and the Mid-West region. I acknowledge that this project is at a very early stage but I am heartened that despite the economic downturn that investment in new transport infrastructure continues to be made. Quality connectivity to our ports, airports and major urban areas is critical for all regions of Ireland.”

Limerick City and County Council, through the Mid-West National Road Design Office, will manage the scheme.

According to Paul Crowe, Director, Travel & Transportation, Limerick City and County Council: “The first major stage in the process has commenced with the advertisement for consultants to progress the scheme through route selection, design and statutory procedures. It is expected that consultants will be appointed later this year with a preferred route selected in 2014. A major consultation process with the public, landowners and other key stakeholders will be undertaken.”

Preprufe waterproofing system protects Dublin’s e410M Aviva Stadium At the e410M Aviva Stadium in Dublin, more than 8,000sq m of Grace’s Preprufe waterproofing membrane was chosen to deliver outstanding levels of watertightness – further enhancing the Company’s reputation and proven track record for delivering waterproof protection at the world’s most important structures.

Designed by Architects Populous and Scott Tallon Walker to provide a stunning new home for international rugby and football in Ireland, the building was also built to work in harmony with the local community and ensure minimal environmental impact.

With long term waterproofing performance, reliability and success at high-profile projects worldwide – Preprufe offered the perfect solution to ensure waterproof protection under the stands and beneath slabs in all the Stadium’s habitable areas.

Preprufe is an advanced membrane system which offered the safest and most reliable waterproofing option. Designed with synthetic adhesive layers, Grace’s patented

Advanced Bond Technology enables concrete to aggressively adhere to Preprufe, forming a unique intimate seal which prevents any water migration between the waterproofing and the structure, substantially reducing the risk of leaks.

Grace completed the specification with 7,000sq m of Bituthene 8000 self adhesive waterproofing membrane. Applied to the retaining walls around the Stadium stands, the ultra tough Bituthene membrane has been tested to withstand more than 70 metres head of water when fully supported, so will ensure the watertight continuity of Grace’s fully bonded waterproofing system.

Completed in 2010, the Aviva Stadium has welcomed a new era of stadium construction by combining contemporary design elements with the versatility to host major sporting and music events. Thanks to the specification of the Preprufe from Grace, the Stadium will continue to offer unrivalled sporting and event facilities in a stylish venue for many years to come.

250,000 homes upgraded to date through Better Energy schemes Energy schemes next year. We recently commenced a separate programme of retrofit investment in the Local Authority housing stock. We have also created a new fund this year to boost activity in terms of public and commercial building energy efficiency initiatives.”

The Minister marked the milestone at the launch of a community energy project at Ballyfermot, Dublin where 77 homes, supported by NABCO, the co-operative housing provider, will receive wall and roof insulation, replacement windows and high efficiency heating systems and controls.

A report to be published by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) shows the hugely positive impact to the housing stock in Ireland of our successful energy efficiency and retrofitting schemes. These homeowners have already made energy savings of e150M over the past few years, and will continue to save e60M annually.

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Mr Pat Rabbitte TD, Minister for Communications Energy and Natural Resources, marked the significant milestone of 250,000 homes upgraded in Ireland through the highly successful Better Energy schemes. Free home energy upgrades have been completed in 100,000 homes through the Better Energy Warmer Homes Scheme.

A further 150,000 homeowners have availed of the popular Better Energy Homes grants for insulation and heating upgrades.

Minister Rabbitte said: “The scale of this achievement is immense, amounting to e600M investment in the small buildings sector and an average of 3,800 fulltime jobs over the last five years. I am particularly pleased with the inroads our current programmes are making in respect of energy poverty, with more than one quarter of eligible homes addressed to date. This government has a strong commitment to energy efficiency. We will continue to provide funds for the Better

STRANGE TIMES FOR CONSTRUCTION HEALTH AND SAFETY What strange times we live in. The UK Health and Safety Executive recently announced that the number of workers killed in UK construction has fallen sharply, with 39 fatal injuries in the year to March 2013, compared with 48 in the previous year: a massive reduction which, in no small measure, must reflect the effectiveness of the UK’s current CDM regulatory framework that implements the European Directive.

Yet the UK is poised to have to grapple with yet another CDM regulatory package – which is likely to change responsibilities across the industry, possibly shifting responsibilities away from clients and onto designers – whether they are ready for that or not – and maybe reducing the checks and balances on competence of those

Chief Inspector of Construction, is also picking up the baton on this issue to use it to provide a new focus for CONIAC and HSE’s construction sector going forward.

So, we live in strange times with the HSE currently proposing changes that do not address substantive industry concerns whilst industry, clients and co-ordinators, are pushing on issues that should be the driving force for regulatory change. Is it too late to change the principal thrust of the new CDM Regulatory package? Can it now be modified to make sure that it will make a step change difference to construction health – with regulations that strengthen design and co-ordination, build upon current successes and encourage a holistic and effective approach to construction health as well as safety? We can only hope so.

The current set of CDM Regulations have been judged in all substantive reviews to be basically fit for purpose and years have been spent by the industry, and by the Association for Project Safety especially, in establishing solid and internationally respected guidance on how to coordinate construction health and safety risk management – much in response to challenges set out by successive HSE Chief Inspectors of Construction. The UK principles of CDM are now looked at and applied across projects throughout the world – so we should be building on those successes – not listening to unrepresentative industry moans about overblown bureaucracy and sterile role players – all evidence of lack of competence and lack of commitment. We need to learn from best practice successes

‘‘The focus that we need is on reducing the vast number of people who still suffer ill-health at the hands of the construction industry....” working in construction. And this in an industry where it can be argued that lack of knowledge, lack of competence and lack of commitment remain the biggest problem for effective implementation of construction health and safety risk management. This simply beggars belief.

Whilst important, focusing on reducing bureaucracy, or eliminating a function, are not the real issues. The focus that we really need is on reducing the vast number of people who still suffer ill-health at the hands of the construction industry across both the United Kingdom and Ireland – an issue that has flatlined for far too long.

This is an issue that the Association for Project Safety has been pushing for a long time now – but, until recently, with little sign that most others have yet to see the light. However, in response to the UK’s Chief Construction Adviser Peter Hansford’s recent challenge to tackle this issue, the Construction Clients Group has seen that light and has announced that it will spearhead a drive to focus on occupational health issues. We now also hear that Heather Bryant, the HSE’s new

Whatever new systems are brought into being in the UK, or the revisions to the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (Construction) Regulations 2013, there will still be a need for competent health and safety co-ordination and there is only one organisation that can help extend and deliver that across existing construction health and safety obligations. Who else will help designers, project supervisors and contractors on the extended range of projects that are now being brought under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (Construction) Regulations 2013 and the likely new UK CDM Regulations? With all that is happening in procurement, in design & construction management (think BIM), integration and innovation, with new and challenging government led targets for reducing costs and consequent transformation of teams, processes and procedures this is not the time for the UK HSE to remove the watchful eyes of genuinely competent and committed co-ordinators and not the time to revert to a pattern of regulatory management that didn’t work the first time around (think lead designers and planning supervision).

and roll those out across the whole of the industry by making sure that all who profess to co-ordinate are capable of delivering it.

So when construction comes out of the doldrums and improved national economic figures seep confidence back into property companies and contractors, who will be brave enough to speculate on the construction fatality figures remaining low with new Regulations applying to all projects, including domestic, with more than one contractor on site, new statutory duties for professionals and an overall increase in volume of construction work?

PROMOTING BEST PRACTICE At the Association for Project Safety we believe that everyone involved in construction should have proven competence to undertake their work safely and healthily.

FIND OUT MORE AT

www.aps.org.uk

NEWS CI

SSQ Slate expands direct service to Irish markets SSQ Slate has acquired the business of specialist slate supplier Slate Northern Ireland (SNI). The acquisition will permit SSQ’s range of exclusive natural slate products, including the sought after Del Carmen, Sarria and Riverstone brands, to be available direct to the market both in Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic.

The SNI business was established in 2007 and gives SSQ stock holding facilities in Tobermore and an office in Belfast, as well as regional business managers for Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

Haroun El-Helw, Head of Marketing at

SSQ, commented: “This is the first of many aggressive moves planned by the SSQ Group to have a direct international presence in key natural slate markets, capitalising on its history and passion for providing specialist natural slate products to the global building and construction industry.

“SSQ has been supplying Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland indirectly for more than two decades. This new addition to our business allows us to build on this tradition and cater even better for the insatiable demand these two markets have for natural roofing slate.

“Del Carmen is particularly popular in the Northern Irish market. The acquisition of SNI allows us to supply this to customers direct, giving them unprecedented value and efficiency, and the benefit of SSQ’s more than 30 years’ experience in supplying natural slate solutions.

“Our global mission is to make high quality natural slate the default, preferred choice amongst the roof covering options available.

This exciting acquisition is an important step in our journey towards realising this goal.”

Tourism Minister launches Lighthouse Tourism Trail during a visit to Blackhead Lighthouse

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The Lighthouse Trail is being supported with £2.2M of financial assistance from the European Union’s INTERREG IVA Programme, managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB).

The first phase of the project involves three lighthouse properties in Northern Ireland – Rathlin West Lighthouse, Rathlin Island; Blackhead Lighthouse, Co. Antrim and St. John’s Point Lighthouse, Co. Down – as well as two in the Republic of Ireland.

Emphasising the importance of support for initiatives that seek to enhance our tourism infrastructure, Arlene Foster said: “Many of our local lighthouses are historic and beautiful buildings that play an important role in coastal navigation.

Not only do they stand tall as reminders of our proud maritime history but they also offer significant tourism potential.

“Across the three lighthouses, this project will see the installation of visitor centres and eight luxury self-catering

accommodation units within currently disused light keeper cottages.”

Speaking after a tour of the lightkeeper’s house in Whitehead, the Minister added: “Blackhead Lighthouse guided many great ships on their journey, none more famous than the Titanic. The self catering cottages have been fully restored to their former glory and they offer visitors a magical windswept retreat with a difference.

“The lighthouse keeper’s house is attached to the lighthouse by a short walkway and there are also a variety of coastal walks for visitors to enjoy. Whitehead is an ideal place for visitors to start a trip along the Antrim Coast and it is also within easy access of Carrickfergus and Belfast.”

Welcoming the project Pat Colgan, Chief Executive of the Special EU Programmes Body, said: “This is an important tourism initiative, which has the potential to create long-term economic and employment opportunities for local communities, on a

cross-border basis. The initiative represents a niche form of rural tourism that will help broaden out the tourism season of the entire region. In helping to preserve an important part of our cultural heritage, the project will also create a lasting legacy that will attract both domestic and overseas visitors for many years to come.”

Yvonne Shields, Chief Executive of the Commissioners for Irish Lights, added: “Lighthouses by their very nature are connecting points between land and sea.

They continue to play a very important role in the provision of our maritime safety services. This project has huge potential because in addition to maritime safety services it allows CIL to capitalise on the spectacular locations of our lighthouses, harness their huge heritage value and work with local communities in an exciting and innovative way to deliver economic and tourism benefits north and south.”

Kennedy opens new Bus and Railway Centre in Antrim Regional Development Minister Danny Kennedy has opened the new Integrated Bus and Railway Centre in Antrim.

The project was funded by the Department for Regional Development with support from the EU Interreg IVB North West Europe Programme (NWE). The project has been delivered through a partnership application referred to as SusStation.

Danny Kennedy said: “The recently completed work on the main station will provide superb new facilities for passengers and can be seen as the first environmentally sustainable, low carbon station in Northern Ireland.”

The upgrade to the station building, which includes extended Park & Ride facilities, provides a total of 180 car parking spaces for commuters using the Antrim station. This extension is part of a wider £2.9M investment to deliver Translink’s integrated rail and bus facility.

The Minister acknowledged the success of the recent investment in public transport: “This project once again demonstrates my Department’s determination to invest in public transport and make it even more attractive for people in Northern Ireland.

“Passenger journeys last year and in recent months have once again shown that more and more people are choosing to use public transport.”

On the railways an additional 723,000 passenger journeys were recorded last year – an increase of 6.7%.

In conclusion the Minister said: “I want to thank the European Union, through its INTERREG IVB programme, for the continued support in investing in Northern Ireland’s public transport infrastructure. I also want to thank the SusStation Project for inviting Translink to be part of its programme.”

Ormeau Road regeneration scheme extended Two Belfast City Council regeneration schemes are to be extended, thanks to a cash injection from the Department for Social Development (DSD).

Work on the schemes – part of the Council’s ongoing ‘Renewing The Routes’ programme – started in summer.

It involves the stretch of the Ormeau Road from Ormeau Embankment to the Ravenhill Road, and the Newtownards Road from Bridge End to Witham Street.

Now, thanks to a £310,000 boost from the DSD, the Ormeau Road scheme will now be extended towards the city centre and include the lower Ormeau Road and Cromac Street, while an additional 33 premises on the Newtownards Road will benefit from an extension of the Council’s commercial improvement programme.

Two new environmental schemes also will be carried out on the Ormeau Road, involving lighting and painting the landmark Ballynafeigh Orange Hall and Ballynafeigh Community Development Association building.

Welcoming the latest contribution from the Department, Councillor Deirdre Hargey, Chairman of the Council’s Development

Committee, stated: “As part of the Council’s £150M Investment Programme, we are committed to supporting the regeneration of key arterial routes and producing tangible results that produce attractive, bright and practical schemes which benefit their areas – whether it be by making cosmetic improvements to building facades in commercial areas, improving shared space by landscaping and public art, restoring historical features on important local heritage sites or simply just taking action on graffiti and cleansing.”

Over the past nine years, the ‘Renewing The Routes’ programme has seen the Council invest £6.6M in a series of local regeneration projects on 13 main roads across Belfast – from the Grosvenor Road to Castlereagh Street, the Antrim Road to Sandy Row. The various projects have included the renovation of more than 500 shop units and almost 100 arts, heritage and environmental projects.

The next phase, due to start early next year, will include the Andersonstown Road, from Hillhead Crescent to Suffolk Road, and the Oldpark Road, from Torrens Avenue to Cliftondene Crescent.

ALL JOBS LARGE OR SMALL

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Email: info@maorscaffoldingltd.com www.maorscaffoldingltd.com

COMMENT CI

What’s in it for you?

Community benefits and planning

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Angela Dunbar and Matt Spilsbury, Turley Associates We all want benefits and in a time of economic prudence the spotlight has turned onto major planning applications as a vehicle to deliver community benefits. So what are community benefits? There is no legal definition, but it has been taken to be a benefit that would be provided as a result of the delivery of a new development.

The spectrum of benefits is broad, and the onus is on the developer to clearly articulate what benefits will be derived from a development. In practice this means quantifying the number of jobs, level of financial investment into a local area and explaining how the trickle-down expenditure effects of the development will impact on a local area.

Physical benefits that can be derived include upgraded road infrastructure and the creation of new public spaces.

Social benefits can include the creation of training programmes to assist the longterm unemployed gain access to new job opportunities created as a result of the proposal. The list goes on, but it is important to remember that it’s up to the applicant to clearly present this information as part of the planning package. The socio-economic benefits of a proposal will form a material consideration in the overall determination of the planning application, so it is vital that they are robustly quantified and clearly articulated.

Extracting benefits from major development proposals is a hot topic in planning at present. DoE Planning is currently reviewing the legal toolkit at their disposal, as well as evaluating the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) used in England and Wales, in order to establish the most effective mechanisms to maximise the generation of benefits from development.

To date, the main vehicle for delivering benefits has been the use of Article 40 agreements. However, such agreements can only be used where the benefit proposed is directly required in order to deliver the new development, for example roads improvements. We understand that DoE Planning is currently investigating whether it would be possible to widen the scope of Article 40 agreements to include other non-tangible benefits associated with new developments. This could incorporate funding from energy companies for

community programmes and projects.

As we move closer to the Reform of Public Administration (RPA) in 2015 and the transfer of planning powers to local councils, the idea of adopting the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) is a measure that is currently under close scrutiny. The CIL is a pound per square metre levy on new developments that local authorities are encouraged to charge in their area. The money raised can be used to support development by funding strategic infrastructure that the local authority, local community and neighbourhoods want, for example new schools, road improvements, open space, cultural and leisure facilities.

However, CIL in England and Wales has been a long time in its gestation, which has caused uncertainty and confusion in the property industry. Moreover, the introduction of an additional ‘tax’ on development has been, and continues to be, strongly resisted at what is perceived to be an inappropriate juncture in the economic cycle.

The opportunity exists for Northern Ireland to benefit from a position of hindsight, once the new council structure is in place.

In the short term, it’s clear that developers need to consider two issues. Firstly, how they are articulating the socio-economic impact arising from their proposal. If developers want to be sure that DoE Planning fully appreciates the value of their development proposal, the benefits need to be set out. Secondly, how are they going to deliver the benefits proposed – Article 40 agreement or voluntary undertaking?

These issues need to be resolved before submitting development proposals.

Angela Dunbar

Matt Spilsbury

Angela Dunbar is an Associate Director and Matt Spilsbury an economic planner at planning consultancy Turley Associates. Visit www.turleyassociates. co.uk for further information.

CI COMMENT

Better late than never: Biometrics and Cloud Computing drags on-site time and attendance tracking into the 21st Century Ollie McGovern, Simeio With margins continuing to be squeezed across the construction industry, firms looking to stay competitive are seeking means to drive efficiency.

This process is stalling, however, due to a lack of transparency throughout the management chain.

Advances in technology are helping to overcome some of these challenges. The latest biometric solutions and cloud-based platforms mean that, for the first time, users can gather large amounts of accurate time and attendance data across a multitude of sites and store it securely. Not only can this make site management easier, but when collected data is mined effectively, it can reveal patterns and anomalies that can impact future business decisions.

Biometrics basics

The benefits of installing biometrics with time and attendance software can be felt not only in the office, but also on-site. Accurate time and attendance tracking can lead to better communication on the ground and provide real-time data on workers signing in and out of site – avoiding the possibility of unknown and unplanned absences.

Improved visibility of attendance also makes it much easier for site managers to prove the worth of the teams they employ. Those working on-site must keep to deadlines and work efficiently if projects are to be a success. A team of workers who show up on time and work the agreed times can be invaluable to contractors and subcontractors. With biometric data, it is possible to prove beyond doubt that your team is the right one for the job.

Biometrics as business intelligence

Perhaps the most exciting aspect of the application of biometrics for time and attendance tracking is that the potential of the data goes far beyond the creation of reliable time sheets.

When a large quantity of employee data is mined and analysed it can reveal the story of your business over time. Trends and anomalies can signpost areas that need attention, or where money can be saved.

This can also be invaluable when it comes to pitching for new business. Proof of an effective reporting system and reliable data on the number of people you employ and the time they spend on site can significantly enhance your bidder profile because you can demonstrate efficient project controls.

the puzzle, it is undoubtedly a critical element and is currently an area where money is being lost due to inefficiency and the use of outmoded technology.

Biometric solutions present construction firms with an unprecedented opportunity to make these issues a thing of a past, while offering business owners a unique insight into the day-to-day running of their firm – and the business intelligence to improve the bottom line.

About Simeio

Simeio’s cloud-based Site Roster Control Platform records biometric data in real time to give users a complete overview of human activity on construction projects in any industry whatever their size, duration or scope. The software collects accurate data autonomously on Time & Attendance, Health & Safety Compliance, Environmental Impact and Project Risk Management enabling firms to identify and review risks, make responsive, informed decisions and ensure costs, time and claims are kept to an absolute minimum. It can be integrated with existing hardware and software and installed on both mobile and fixed point devices.

Simeio’s solutions are used by contractors, subcontractors, installers and Quantity Surveyors across the UK including Barratt Homes, Sir Robert McAlpine, KIER and ISG. For more information visit www.simeio.co.uk Ollie McGovern

The key to success

For a construction firm to be successful today it needs to do more than undercut its rivals. Firms need to closely manage their projects to ensure employees are delivering on time and to budget. Key to achieving this is clear communication of accurate data. Although time and attendance is only a small piece of

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Despite the futuristic feel of the concept, biometric technology is in reality simple to use and cost-effective, and when integrated with a cloud-based software solution it can deliver an excellent ROI. A fingerprint scanner or alternative biometric hardware can be used to collect the data and send it to a hub via a secure network for storage and analysis. In the context of a building site, the software needed to process and present this data can be integrated with existing hardware and installed at points of site entry and exit, or on handheld wireless devices. It can also be integrated with an organisation’s management business processes and software.

The data can then be accessed via a web interface at any time, with customised reports showing live, up-to-the minute data, including hours logged, absences, qualifications and lateness sorted by individual, team, contractor or site. It can also be secured and stored centrally in the cloud. Not only is the data secure, but it can be accessed by the user and stakeholders via a secure web interface.

Crucially, cloud-based software is extremely scalable; as the capital expenditure is minimal it is an extremely attractive proposition to firms of all sizes as they only have to pay for what they need.

Seeing the on-site benefits

EDUCATION CI

Alexandra College New extension at the Milltown campus

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COMMERCIAL CI

Alexandra College multi-purpose sports hall is on schedule to be completed for the new academic year.

The development will cater for sports, music and drama activities. The changing and welfare facilities will promote these indoor activities and the adjacent all-weather hockey pitches, tennis courts and grass pitch.

As well as Alexandra College, the development will also be used by Old Alex Ladies Hockey Club, which was founded in 1893 and is the oldest hockey club in Ireland.

Duggan Lynch Ltd has been appointed the Main Contractor for this prestigious project. The Company commenced trading in 1994 and has successfully completed a number of similar type projects.

This project comprises of a two-storey structural steel frame building, built over a 400sq m reinforced concrete basement comprising of changing rooms, shower rooms, gym room, store and boiler room.

At superstructure level the building is enveloped in a combination of terracotta rainscreen cladding, mechanically fixed back to collar jointed blockwork and reinforced concrete perimeter beams, with full height curtain walling on one elevation

and continuous perimeter glazing at eaves level. Ground floor level comprises of a 600sq m multi-purpose sports hall complete with retractable seating, which can accommodate up to 364 people.

At first floor level there is a 70sq m viewing gallery complete with viewing screen. One of the more striking features of this building is the feature concave/convex curved roof deck, which is visible from the Luas Line that runs alongside Alexandra College.

Designed by David Young of Hamilton Young Architects, the 1,200sq m two-storey building over a 400sq m basement maximizes the available footprint in a confined site.

O’Connor Sutton Cronins’ Andy O’Brien provided the structural design.

William Farrell Limited (WFL) were engaged to complete the installation of the electrical services package. As part of this project WFL installed the main electrical distribution system, general services, mechanical power and control wiring, lighting installation, fire alarm installation and site services.

The quantity surveyors are Davis Langdon, led by Jason Hobson-Shaw, with Project Surveyor, Brian Kevans.

The client’s Project Manager is Tony Cooper,

Cooper Construction Management.

The project brief is for sustainability and energy saving is assisted by the use of heat recovery ventilation and solar panels.

www.wfl.ie

William Farrell Limited are an electrical engineering solutions contractor specialising in the commercial, industrial, medical and educational sectors.

We provide full design and build packages as well as maintenance and 24 hour on-call services.

Call us today to discuss your engineering requirements.

We are proud to be associated with Alexandra College

Wiiliam Farrell Ltd. Grange House, Unit 94, Foxrock Avenue, Dublin 18 Tel: 01 289 5466 / Email: info@wfl.ie / Web: www.wfl.ie

Allergan Production Facility Significant expansion project Allergan Pharmaceuticals is investing e350M in its Westport site to construct a new biologics manufacturing facility.

The new plant, which is being developed to satisfy the ever-growing global demand for botox, will be fully operational by 2017.

Allergan first came to Westport in 1977 and over the last 36 years, has been almost constantly been expanding. The Westport facility is now the largest manufacturing plant within the Company network, and with more than 800 employees, also has the largest number of staff in one location, outside of their corporate headquarters in Irvine, California.

Speaking when the investment was announced at the beginning of last year, Taoiseach Enda Kenny, said: “This is a commitment by this plant to this region for the next 25-30 years and from that point of view it’s very significant.

“This is a signal of competence in the community, it’s a signal by the Company of what Ireland actually offers, it’s a remarkable result for the IDA over so many years and principally Allergan continues here because of the workforce of Allergan, who has set the bar very high. This is now

the biggest plant within the corporation.” devices and over-the-counter consumer The expansion will result in the creation products, and state-of-the-art resources of approximately 200 new jobs at in R&D, manufacturing and safety the site over the next three years surveillance that help millions of patients and an estimated 250 jobs indirectly see more clearly, move more freely during the construction period. and express themselves more fully.

Allergan is a multi-specialty health care Designed by Taylor Architects and company established more than 60 years being built by John Sisk & Son, ago with commitment to uncover the best work will be complete in 2017. of science and develop and deliver innovative and meaningful treatments to help people reach their life’s potential.

Mullane Plant Hire are a company based in Co. Sligo and provide a wide range Today, the Company of plant machinery to the construction and civil engineering industries. has approximately 11,100 highly We have been in business for over 30 years and with the experience and dedicated and expertise we have built up over the years, we have become the prime Civil Engineering Contractor and plant hire company in Sligo. talented employees, global marketing and Cuilbeg - Carraroe - Sligo sales capabilities with Office 071 916 1635 a presence in more Garry 086 8526440 than 100 countries, Shane: 086 1737991 a rich and everEmail: info@mullaneplanthire.com evolving portfolio www.mullaneplanthire.com of pharmaceuticals, biologics, medical

Mullane Plant Hire

CI PROFILE

Bennett Construction Ltd A legacy of construction excellence Pennys, Mary Street

appointed Bennett to demolish both the Frankfurt is Primark’s ninth in Germany hotel and the Goods Inwards in two phases and its 256th throughout Europe. before redeveloping the site to extend The 42,000sq ft of retail space the trading area of the existing store. accommodates the latest Primark Store The existing hotel will be demolished development concepts and fashion trends, in its entirety in Phase I, with the and thanks to the high quality construction construction of a new three-storey undertaken by Bennett, was completed steel frame structure founded on CFA on time and to the client’s satisfaction. piles and associated ground beams.

Bennett Construction Ltd, Forest Park, Phase I will also accommodate new sales Mullingar, Co. Westmeath, Ireland. floors with an increase of retail space of 2,150sq m on the ground and first PREMIER BRICK & BLOCK levels with a new LAYING CONTRACTOR stockroom located on the second floor.

Phase II work involves the demolition of the Goods Inwards and stockrooms that adjoin the Black Friars Abbey. This wall will be temporarily supported until such time as the new frame returns permanent support to the wall.

The existing store will be modified with www.keymoreconstruction.com the extension of staff areas to accommodate 95 High Street, Bessbrook, the new staff Newry, Co. Down BT35 7DZ numbers including a new training room T: 048 3083 8867 (ROI) and canteen.

F: 048 3083 7523 (ROI) Work started in June M: (+353) 87 712 2964 (ROI) and the project is T: 028 3083 8867 (UK) due for completion F: 028 3083 7523 (UK) in April 2014.

M: 07753 982088 (UK) February of this year saw Primark E: info@keymoreconstruction.com open a store in Germany following completion by Bennett on the project.

The flagship store on Zeil in

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Founded in 1917, Bennett Construction has steadily grown into an international construction and construction services company with clients representing every market sector.

While Bennett projects range in complexity, the Company’s success formula is constant and practical: combine the best people, the best knowledge set, latest technology and sustainability measures, and an unwavering commitment to safety.

Since its establishment in Ireland in 1917, the Company has grown dramatically in both size and reputation. Bennett first entered the UK and particularly the London market in the mid-1980s and is now an established market force with an experienced and focused team.

The Company can boast a broad portfolio of successfully completed projects across a range of sectors including residential, restoration/refurbishment, hospitality, commercial, industrial, healthcare and pharmaceutical.

Bennett has built its reputation on client focus and a hands-on approach. The Company is proud of the fact that the majority of work comes from repeat business and that there is a strong reputation for a competitive edge and reliable execution of all projects undertaken.

This is achieved through relentless attention to detail and an experienced team with the drive and customer focus to ensure client satisfaction is a given on all Bennett projects.

After completing Penneys Flagship store in Mary Street, Dublin, Bennett has now been appointed Main Contractor on the e8M refurbishment of their store in Waterford.

Penneys has an existing trading store on Barronstrand Street in Waterford with their Goods Inwards and stockrooms extending back onto Conduit Lane.

This existing store was redeveloped in 2009, founded on CFA piles with a reinforced concrete frame to the trading store and a steel structure to the rear stockroom area.

Penneys recently acquired the adjoining Belfry Hotel on Conduit Lane and have

LEISURE CI

Limerick Riverside Improvements City Quay undergoing major improvement to benefit future tourists The e5.2M redevelopment of Howley’s Quay is now complete after nine months improving the riverside walkway.

The Limerick Riverside is one of the most important assets of the city, as recognised by the substantial new development investment and the overall vision for Riverside City.

The riverside improvement works to quays in Limerick city centre are one of the central elements of this strategy and include underground services diversions, road and footpath resurfacing, erection of a cantilevered boardwalk over the River Shannon and extensive landscaping works.

It’s a project with many health and safety issues such as traffic management and working over water, all of which needed careful consideration as part of the design process.

The City Quays project will develop a walking trail between Shannon Bridge and Sarsfield Bridge and provides visitors with new views of Limerick Riverside City.

Grant support of e3.15M has been secured under the NDP (2007-2013) tourism programme operated by Failte Ireland.

Under this tourism programme and Limerick City Council, it was decided that the City Quay’s project represented the next stage in the City Riverside Improvement Strategy, which aims to provide high quality waterside environment for public use and enjoyment of the River Shannon, as well as a unique setting for the ongoing revitalisation of the city centre.

The River Shannon provides a unique natural resource for both residents and visitors and this is recognised by substantial new development investment and the overall vision for Riverside City.

The project will reinforce the previously completed improvement works on O’Callaghan’s and Clancy’s Strands through the realisation of a continuous visitor trail around the key sections of the river with enhanced water-based activities, while also complementing the public realm improvements of the city centre.

The construction contract for the quays was awarded to L&M Keating. It required piling to the new boardwalk structure, and McDonnell Piling & Foundations was employed to carry out 450mm diameter piling in a very restricted site.

The River Shannon provided an environmentally sensitive boundary on one side with a road where access had to be maintained on the other side of the site. A Tescar CF3 rig was used due to its compact size and weight for such a tight site.

Concrete was supplied and pumped using Roadstone’s pumi pump, which was able to connect to the piling operation and facilitate the pumping of additional concrete from delivery trucks. Piles were installed to the depths of six metres to eight metres.

They were installed with minimum disruption to traffic in the area and no interference with the River Shannon whatsoever.

Work was initially delayed by some weeks, as

the boardwalk – larger than that on Clancy’s Stand – is being extended out by some four metres over the River Shannon for the enjoyment of walkers, joggers and runners.

Minister Michael Noonan said: “The works on the banks of the River Shannon are critical to further developing Limerick’s position as a Riverside city and this funding will assist in developing the surrounding city as an attraction for visitors.”

An estimated 30 jobs have been created on site thanks to the construction phase and with the work now complete, it is expected that 17 full-time jobs will be created.

Nicholas de Jong Associates is the Architect for the project, while other members of the design team include O’Shea Consulting Engineers – Civil & Structural Engineers, along with PHM Consulting, and the Chartered Quantity Surveyors and Project Manager is Lawlor Burns & Associates.

Work on the three-phase project, which also includes steelwork, paving, lighting, and installation of street furniture, started in October 2012 and completed last month.

It follows hot on the heels of the redevelopment of King John’s Castle, which has opened up new areas of the castle battlements to visitors, who get escorted by guides in period costume.

Visitors can try on these costumes themselves, including chainmail tunics or 18th century dresses, or explore a battle campaign tent and blacksmith’s.

Based in Tuam, Co. Galway since 1986, Larkin Engineering has been a leader in the manufacture of general engineering components and Street Furniture. Today, the Larkin family remains committed to continuing the tradition of manufacturing innovative and quality products for both the public & private sector.

Engineer Pioneer Innovate

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Larkin Street Products, Business Centre, Weir Road, Tuam, Co. Galway, Ireland.

Tel Ireland: +353 (0)93 24629/24504 Tel UK: +44 (0)7825 146600 Fax: +353 (0)93 22190 Email: info@larkin-eng.com Web: www.larkin-eng.com

Larkin Street Products manufactures all products in our Tuam facility. Working directly with our clients, we are able to produce products specifically to their requirements and specification. We manufacture, deliver and install (if required) our full product range throughout Ireland, Northern Ireland and the United Kingdom.

Larkin Street Products are specialists in the design & manufacture of Litter Bins, Recycling Units and Bollards. Custom Fabrication and durable innovative Street Furniture and accessories manufactured in a variety of durable materials including Zintec, Galvanised Steel and Stainless Steel (Marine Grade 316).

Larkin Engineering also provides precision engineering solutions to a diverse range of industries. We offer a complete service in design, manufacture & production of low volume to massed-produced components, as well as light fabrication & tube manipulation.

CI PROFILE

JMW Farms Ltd Family run business with decades of experience JMW Farms is a family run business specialising in pig farming, established in the early 1980s and directed by Jim and Mark Wright.

Initially a partnership, this progressed into a limited company a few years ago. Both Jim and Mark have always worked with pigs since being teenagers, as the business has developed, their knowledge and experience has enabled them to position the business as a leading player in the market.

Operating out of three offices – Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland and UK - JMW Farms has approximately 100 staff members. A specialised training programme is delivered to all on how to work within such a niche industry. The main body of employees are pig related with a few employed in construction also given specific training. A considerable amount of maintenance work is required to keep the business competitive in its operations.

The Company’s development is market driven and growth is in line with processing companies such as Karro Foods and Dunbia.

Historically there has been extensive

demand for British pork, this demand has continued and increased nationally.

Recently, the Company has commissioned a purpose built mill for its own use. It is located at Tonnagh Road, County Armagh, in Northern Ireland.

JMW Farms has outside or contract growers as well as their own growing sites. The mill is used to make the meal for these contract growers as well as for the Company. The mill was finished and opened in May 2013.

The Company also uses an Anaerobic Digestion (AD) plant, which is well suited to agricultural residues and crops. As a progressive company, JMW Farms decided to get on board when the UK government encouraged farmers and entrepreneurs to build AD plants to help meet legislative targets imposed on them in an effort to reduce the global carbon footprint.

In making this major capital investment, JMW Farms can avail of financial returns, while helping reduce greenhouse emissions and also providing organic fertiliser with an increased nutrient

value. This will help to contribute to the reduction of the global carbon footprint.

The AD plant became an attractive investment because in April 2011, the Renewable Obligation Certificates (ROCs) available for anaerobic digestion in Northern Ireland were increased from two to four.

This changed the economics of AD plants considerably, JMW recognised this and began to invest within the sector.

As far back as two years ago, industry insiders thought there could be up to 40 more plants in Northern Ireland, either at planning stage, ready to begin construction, or already being built.

The first large scale on-farm AD plant was brought into service in 2011 on the Armagh site of JMW Farms, after Jim and Mark decided to press ahead with the major capital investment, while others were still debating and questioning the viability of AD. The plant was constructed by Moore Biosystems, the sister company to Moore Concrete, and has links to Danishbased Lundsby Holdings, who have built AD continued page 20 >

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Steel Fabrication & Erection - Roofing & Cladding Agricultural Housing & Sheds - Shuttering Poultry Housing - Pig Units We are a steel erecting specialist based in Cookstown, Northern Ireland and have been established for over 40 years.

In this time, we have developed an excellent reputation for efficiency, reliability, cost-effectiveness and safety, serving a

wide range of customers throughout the UK and Ireland.

We have built a long lasting relationship with our current clients and are proud of the reputation we have acquired through our various contracts we have completed.

55 Knockanroe Road - Stewartstown Dungannon - Co Tyrone - NI - BT71 5LX T: 028 8676 5227 - F: 028 8676 1013 M: 07771 683222 E: alan@reidengineering.co.uk www.reidengineering.co.uk

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plants in Denmark and throughout Europe.

While the AD plant is built to a blueprint developed by Lundsby, Moore Biosystems are responsible for construction with all the materials and equipment, which were sourced locally.

JMW Farms initially installed a 250kW plant with a view to commissioning a second 250kW engine. The plant now operates with a 500kW capacity.

There is also the potential income from the heat produced from the engines – and possible future government financial support through a Renewable Heat Incentive Scheme – which, in this case, is being used to heat the nearby pig unit.

The JMW Farms tank incorporates a

pre-mixing tank with up to seven days storage capacity and a macerator used for feeding in grass silage. The macerator has a sieve plate and a set of knives.

The AD process is very simple. It begins when biomass is fed to the digester, such as a sealed tank and continues with naturally occurring microorganisms digesting the biomass.

This process releases methane-rich gas called biogas, which can be used to make renewable heat and power. This helps to lessen the use of fossil fuel and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The plant is registered with the CHPQA. The remaining product generated from the process, which is made up of indigestible

material and dead micro-organisms is called digestate. Throughout the digestive process, nutrients such as nitrogen, potassium and phosphate have been concentrated into digestate, resulting in an excellent organic fertilisation product.

At the JMW Farms site, where the AD plant is based, the heat used to increase the temperature for new born and first stage pigs, comes from renewable energy generated by the electricity generator powered by the biogas created by the AD. The Company is currently extending the use of power generated from the AD plant to service the newly constructed, state-of-the-art animal feed mill. continued page 22 >

Construction Fasteners Ireland Limited We cater for the building and engineering industries: Window companies • Joinery companies Civil engineering • Structural companies Roofing companies For further information on our stainless steel nuts and bolts, Telephone 028 8776 7981 or email oliver-constructionfasteners@hotmail.co.uk

O'Neills Yard, 18 Cookstown Road, Dungannon BT70 3NF www.constructionfastenersireland.co.uk

028 3754 8646

Meeting Ireland construction needs for over 50 years Suppliers of a wide range of BSI accredited ready mixed concrete , with distribution plants north and south of the border.

Sand and aggregate deliveries from our own quarry situated conveniently off the Ballygawley roundabout.

Our high quality blocks and bricks and precast concrete products can be delivered on site, with next day delivery available.

We also manufacture and fit agricultural slats.

Our sister company DC PILING Ltd are specialists in foundational piling and can meet all of your engineering needs.

Bagged sand, dry and wet available from yard.

Call us and see what we can do for you Barretts Eglish Tel: 028 3754 8646 Fax: 028 3754 8863 Barretts Ballygawley Tel: 028 8075 8280 Fax: 028 8075 8658 Barretts Emyvale Tel: 00353 (0)47 87539 DC Piling Ltd Tel: 028 8075 7473 Fax: 028 8075 7477

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e-mail info@dcpiling.com web www.dcpiling.com

publishing limited Manufacturers and suppliers of all Piggery Equipment and Housing.

Plastic Sheets sales

to advertise in this magazine please call

0125 7 231900 www.pro-mark.org.uk

101 Milltown Road, Benburb, Co. Tyrone BT71 7LZ Tel: 028 3754 8419 Fax: 028 3754 8252 Mobile: 07802 295019 Email: etra@live.co.uk

● Grain Driers

● Grain Storage & Handling Equipment ● Mill & Mixing Plants ● Moisture Meters

● Crop Control Instruments ● Grain Pedestals

● Fans and Livestock Feeding Systems

We are suppliers of Livestock Feeding Systems to JMW FARMS and wish them every success in the future.

CONTRACTORS AND PLANT HIRE DOZERS D6 - D9 / DIGGERS 13 TON to 40 TON / VOLVO A25C DUMPTRUCKS Bulk Earth Works - Civil Engineering - Demolition - Commercial and Private Projects - Plant Hire with Fully Qualified Staff Kelly Contractors and Plant Hire were delighted to carry out all earthworks for JMW Farms and wish them every success in future ‘Ballymaglave House’, 10 Ballymaglave Road, Ballynahinch, Co. Down BT24 8LX Tel: (028) 9756 4777 or (028) 9756 4888 Mobile: 078 85647012 Fax: (028) 9756 1777 Email: norman@kellycontractorsni.com www.kellycontractors.co.uk

223 Moira Road, Lisburn BT28 2ST Tel: 028 9262 1630 Fax: 028 9262 2293 Mobile: 078 0245 1789 Email: gardinerfarm@btconnect.com

For all your AGRI Planning requirements - Province Wide tel: +44 (0) 28 8676 3515

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With over 25 years experience in Agricultural Planning we specialise in: Poultry Housing • Pig Housing • Cattle Sheds and Handling Facilities • Anaerobic Digesters Wind Turbines • Transfer Maps • Farm Dwellings • Extensions Farm Diversification • Industrial and Commercial Sheds

10 UNION STREET, COOKSTOWN BT80 8NN Philip: 079 9097 1155 | Adrian: 078 6680 9022 | www.hmbarchitecture.co.uk

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In the future, subject to a connection between the electricity generation plant and the national grid, the Company aims to supply renewable power for general consumption.

JMW Farms has also recently constructed a research Feed Evaluation Station which has been partnered with AFBI and joint funded by a DARDNI grant.

In such a purpose built feed evaluation station, it is possible to trial combinations of feed against each other to determine optimum animal performance and to reduce nutrient supply to better reflect requirement.

This will result in a reduction of environmental impact of the farm through reduced nutrient release, and will also improve the air quality in the buildings.

As there is a direct link between nutrition and performance,

the results of these on-going trials are used to allow the animals to express their genetic ability while enhancing their overall welfare. The benefits of the evaluations carried out at this location can then be rolled out over other farm sites.

The feed evaluation station is currently studying issues related to Stage 1, Stage 2 and pregnant sows, with future plans to complete the package with a finishing

unit similarly designed to investigate issues relating to pigs from 35kg live weight.

JMW Farms Ltd, 52 Cortynan Road, Armagh, County Armagh, BT60 4QZ.

CI LEISURE

The Morrison Hotel Opened following a E7M refurbishment first opening in May 1999. In addition, it paved the way for many further concept ‘designer’ hotels within Ireland, and has been cutting edge since its beginnings, due to themes such as ‘East Meets West’.

Initially, the hotel comprised of 90 bedrooms and suites, a bar and restaurant, and the basement nightclub Lobo.

Just six years later, the hotel was extended to increase its number of bedrooms to 138 rooms, while meeting space was also added.

This latest development has improved the hotel even further, and since March 2012, it has been managed by Martinez Hotels & Resorts – a dynamic company led by highly experienced individuals with a strong track record in the hospitality industry.

Part of the Martinez Hotel Group, Martinez Hotels & Resorts was established in 2011, and the Company operates and manages a portfolio of midscale and upscale city and resort hotels across Europe.

The high quality design from Nikki O’Donnell Architects has paid tribute to the musical past of the hotel.

Many singer/songwriters from Ireland are included within the hotel because each room features a lyric from artists such as The Script, Imelda May, Damien Rice, Lisa Hannigan, and many more.

Decibel levels are featured on carpets, as well as a feature wall representing a sound wave.

In addition to musical features, there are some non-musical aspects of the

design, such as light boxes, lockers and a side table that lights up. Rooms are brightly coloured with either a pink, purple and turquoise theme.

The opening of the hotel was lauded

by Stephen Mulligan, UK & Ireland Director of Martinez Hotels & Resorts.

He said: “We set out with a very ambitious timeline for this project so we’re delighted to be opening the hotel on schedule and with the support of our new partners, Hilton Worldwide.

“The refurbishment coincides with a busier than normal event calendar for Ireland this year and we believe the reopening will not only benefit the long-term patrons of the Morrison, but will also contribute to the vibrancy of this up-and-coming part of Dublin.”

Austrian-based consulting company, MRP Hotels, also contributed greatly to the hotel.

The Company specialises in hospitality and hotel real estate, and managed this project.

Herbert Mascha, Managing Director at MRP Hotels, said: “We set a very tight schedule in terms of both design and construction, utilising a very experienced and skilled team to ensure the work was completed to standards – both internally as well as the respective brand standards.”

The Main Contractor for the stylistic overhaul of this luxury hotel was Walls Construction.

The hotel closed in November 2012 and reopened at the beginning of February 2013, within the schedule set out for construction.

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Ireland’s first DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel opened its doors in February, bringing one of Europe’s fastest growing upscale hotel brands to the Emerald Isle.

The Morrison Hotel has benefited from a contemporary renovation of its 138 rooms and suites, which have been redesigned with a brand new concept that is centred on music and sound.

This stylistic overhaul has also seen a new bar and restaurant – Bar Quay 14 and The Morrison Grill – incorporated into the hotel, and both were officially opened on the 1st February.

Situated in the heart of Dublin and on the banks of the River Liffey, the uber chic Morrison Hotel is a central location for hotel guests and visitors, as well as weddings, conferences and meetings.

It is surrounded by some of Dublin’s premier shopping and entertainment districts, and is just 40 steps across the Millennium Bridge from the lively quarter of Temple Bar. A wide range of meeting and conference spaces and facilities are also available for corporate hire and weddings, catering from groups as small as eight, up to as many as 240 people.

Dublin’s internationally renowned lifestyleboutique hotel has been repositioned as a vibrant hip hotel and eatery, making it a premier destination for local and international visitors in one of Dublin’s already established urban areas.

The hotel has grown significantly since

CIVIL CI

N40

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Greatly alleviating traffic in the area Located on the main artery outside Cork city, the N40 (previously the N25 South Ring Road) project will see an upgrade of the mainline carriageway to provide a flyover at both the existing Bandon Road and Sarsfield Road roundabouts.

The Greater Cork area has undergone major development due to its growing industrial sector and urbanisation. The increase in development is clearly reflected in the growing traffic problems on the N25 in general and in particular, the junctions on the former N25 South Ring Road.

The N40 was constructed in accordance with the recommendations in the Cork Land Use and Transformation Study (LUTS). The completion of the downstream crossing of the harbour with the Jack Lynch Tunnel has led to a marked increase in traffic using the N40.

The opening of the Ballincollig Bypass in 2004 led to a further increase in traffic using the N25 Ring Road and the Bandon Road roundabout.

The Ballincollig Bypass provides a dual carriageway linking the N25 at Bandon Road to the existing N22 at Ovens.

Together with the grade separation at Kinsale Road roundabout, it significantly improves the road network infrastructure in the city and county.

Work on the road network will improve journey times from the south west to the north east and also relieve traffic congestion at Bandon Road and Sarsfield Road roundabouts. The completed project will see projected reduction in journey time in the region of 75% during peak periods.

In determining a preferred solution, a number of options were identified for each junction taking into account the various constraints such as environmental issues, drainage, utilities, planning and land ownership issues, cost and engineering factors.

Five options considered at Bandon Road roundabout included a flyover carrying east-west traffic over the roundabout, raised

roundabout with east-west traffic in cutting under the roundabout, diamond interchange where east-west traffic is taken in cutting under the junction, cut and cover tunnel taking east-west traffic under the existing roundabout, and an open underpass taking east-west traffic under the roundabout.

The options considered at Sarsfield Road roundabout included a flyover carrying Sarsfield Road over the roundabout, an underpass carrying Sarsfield Road under the roundabout, a flyover carrying the east-west traffic over the roundabout, and an underpass carrying the eastwest traffic under the roundabout.

The various options for both roundabout junctions were compared and evaluated in terms of traffic capacity, environmental impacts, safety, constructability, cost, aesthetics, disruption to traffic during construction and land take.

After all these factors were considered, it was concluded that the optimum solution was a flyover carrying east-west traffic on

the N40 over both roundabout junctions.

The site of the road construction was a greenfield site that was a bog, though demolition of two footbridges was required prior to construction.

Located between a residential development on one side and industrial/commercial on the other, the ground consists of soft silt and peat of up to 20m depth across a large portion of the site area.

Grade separation of the Bandon Road and Sarsfield Road roundabouts will see the construction of parallel link roads between the roundabouts, the construction of slip roads to and from the N40 to meet these roundabouts, upgrading of the approach roads to both roundabouts, and the construction of new cycle ways/ footpaths and all ancillary works including overall traffic management for the works.

Work will also see the installation of drainage, road signage such as gantry signs, noise barriers, traffic signals, provision of continued page 28 >

Micheal Harrington

Plant Hire (Beara) Ltd

Tel: 027 74200 Mobile: 087 2622658 Email: mtharrington@eircom.net Faunkill, Eyeries, Bantry, Beara, Co. Cork

27

road markings, public lighting, landscaping, and fencing and accommodation works.

It is a project that is committed to preserving the environment, and as such will use locally sourced aggregates, precast concrete beams and reinforced earth construction. Locally sourced materials are being used wherever possible to minimise the environmental impact of the scheme.

The nature of the scheme means that it is being constructed while traffic can still access the road so this involves careful management of a live site. On the main line, there are approximately 40,000 vehicles each day and almost 80,000 vehicles using the Sarsfield Road roundabout each day.

Because of this, extensive traffic management has been used to proceed while, at the same time, a minimum of two lanes in each direction are available for traffic.

Night time and weekend closures have been used to minimise disruption to the public and local businesses for the more difficult areas of construction.

Designed by RPS Consultants, the contract includes targeted landscaping, including

tree planning at both the Bandon Road roundabout central island and the Sarsfield Road roundabout central island.

Maintenance of free landscaping options have been adopted for the grass verge areas of the new dual carriageway.

It is a popular development. This is evident because the model of the scheme that was available for viewing at the construction site office drew a significant level of interest on a daily basis, so it is something the people of Cork have a genuine interest about.

Advance contracts were awarded for

extensive site investigation, accommodation works to relocate boundary wall to major retail outlet and sports facility, and also relocation of utility services.

The Main Contractor is SIAC Construction Ltd. Work started in June 2011 and the whole project will be completed at the end of the year. The road was opened on 24th July, and the total scheme budget was e98M including land, design costs and construction costs etc.

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Viae Ltd, Dolcain House, Monastery Road, Clondalkin, Dublin Tel: 353 (1) 4033248 Email: info@viae.ie

CI CIVIL

Patrickswell Sewerage Scheme Meeting current environmental regulations Work is well underway in Limerick to separate the combined foul and surface water system.

The works include construction of six kilometres of gravity sewers, which will flow to a new pumping station under construction at Barnakyle in Patrickswell.

Sewage will then be pumped from there to the Limerick main drainage network at Raheen in Limerick City.

Situated in the mid-west of Ireland, County Limerick dates back to the year 1210 when King John of England set up the first 12 Irish counties, of which Limerick was one.

The county itself comprises an area of approximately 2,725sq km and contains 119 civil parishes, 58 ecclesiastical parishes, 135 electoral divisions, 1,929 townlands, five local government electoral areas and three Dail communities – Limerick City, Limerick and West Limerick North Kerry.

The current total population of the county is 134,527, which is an increase of 10,262 (more than 8%) since 2006.

Limerick County Council is the local government administrative body responsible for Limerick County and comprises an elected and executive structure.

This sewerage scheme is necessary because

the existing plant in Patrickswell is over capacity. There was a capacity demand for a new sewerage plant in Patrickswell, which will allow for future development.

The existing plant was built in the 1940s and because of this, it doesn’t meet current environmental standards and therefore needs to be upgraded for any future development in the Patrickswell area.

The current plant discharges to the Barnakyle River, which is a stream that flows into Limerick. After work has completed, there will be no discharge into this stream with everything instead going to the main network in Raheen, allowing for the sustainable development of Patrickswell into the future.

This scheme is funded by Limerick County Council and the Department of the Environment, Community & Local Government through the Water Services Investment Programme.

Work also comprises of the construction of 91 manholes, a storm headwall as well as the pumping station emergency overflow headwall.

The Main Contractor for the development is Conwell Contracts. Established in 1995, the Company has impressed with

its work up to now, having liaised with the local house owners and business owners throughout construction.

Conwell Contracts has kept everybody well informed, and all services were chartered beforehand. Disruption has been kept to a minimum too, and alternative routes are available for travel away from the roads.

The Company is currently involved with contracts for Northern Ireland Water and many county councils in the Republic of Ireland, as well as Group Water Supply schemes in Co. Monaghan & Co. Cavan.

Conwell Contracts also carry out subcontract work for ESB networks in Dublin and other various contract work.

The sewerage scheme didn’t have an architect, but Barry & Partners is the Consulting Engineer on the project.

Established in 1959, the Company is one of Ireland’s leading consulting engineers and offers a wide variety of services in the civil, environmental, structural, transportation and health and safety sectors and has completed numerous successful projects in each area.

Construction of the £2.8M Limerick project started in January 2013 and will be completed early next year.

SECURITY ON SITE Baunacloka, Mungret, Co. Limerick

Tel: 086 8251691 29

PSA Licence # 00884 NASI Licence # 999.501

COMMERCIAL CI

Suretank Ltd New office development

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Images courtesy of Van Dijk International

Suretank Ltd, a world-leading manufacturer of cargo carrying units (CCUs) for the offshore oil and gas industry, is in the process of constructing a new office building at Shamrock Hill in Dunleer.

It will provide a new two-storey office building, associated signage, a new car park to incorporate the relocation of parking from the existing car park, and use of part of that car park as a working industrial yard and all other necessary site works associated with the development and the existing factory.

Established in 1995 in Ireland to supply offshore chemical tanks to the North Sea, Suretank is now a global supplier of offshore tanks and offshore containers. The Company has design and manufacturing facilities in Ireland, UK, Poland, Thailand and China as well as sales offices in USA, Norway and Brazil.

Suretank’s product range includes chemical and acid transport tanks, helifuel tanks, offshore containers, baskets, offshore mudskips and cryogenic tanks.

The Company’s customer base includes most of the major service, rental, exploration and production companies in the offshore industry. Its units are found worldwide, including North Sea, West Africa, Gulf of Mexico, Brazil, Caspian Sea, Sakhalin, India, Australia, Middle East and the Far East.

From Thailand to the North Sea, from Poland to the People’s Republic of China, Suretank has designed, manufactured and installed specialist offshore tanks and CCUs for some of the world’s leading oil-producing companies.

What really sets Suretank apart is the

fact that it also has engineers working plan offices, a suite of four offices, a on the ground in all the areas to which meeting room, print room, lunch room/ the Company supplies. This ensures that canteen, toilets and a lift shaft.

Suretank can provide the highest level of The palette of material for the building service and advice to customers, whenever includes stainless steel panel, Kingspan they need it and wherever they might be. metal roof, aluminium triple glazed windows When it comes to offshore oil exploration, with selected yellow colour frames and safety is of paramount importance. white coloured plaster render finish.

That’s why Suretank designs and Landscaping will include raised planter beds manufactures equipment that is built at the entrance point to the development and tested to the highest standards. and along the entrance road, a paved It is for this reason that Suretank leads footpath link to provide an access point the world when it comes to safety to the established Suretank site to the standard accreditations, including PED, rear, and landscaped buffer areas.

CEN and DNV 2.7-1 certifications.

The Architect is Van Dijk International and Suretank also ensures that all the equipment the Main Contractor is Felix O’Hare Ltd. it produces complies with ongoing changes The project will be complete in October. in regulations and works closely with all its customers to make sure they are getting the very best product and the one that best fits their needs.

The ground floor of the new building will consist of a main entrance, reception and waiting area, two open plan office O'Hare Steel Ltd has become one of the leading mild steel fabrication companies in areas extending to Northern Ireland. Interaction with many of the main building contractors on a wide 125sq m each, CEO variety of industrial and commercial projects has ensured the growth and development of O'Hare Steel Ltd to its current status. and Chairman’s office, a board room, tea We are pleased to be associated with Felix O’Hare on the Suretank Offices project and wish all involved continued success. station, toilets, staff O'Hare Steel Ltd entrance, and electrical 115 Newry Road, Mayobridge, Newry, Co. Down BT34 2JF and server rooms.

Tel / Fax 028 3085 1637 Tel 028 3085 1452 On the first floor, www.oharesteel.com there will be another two 125sq m open

Felix O’Hare & Co. Ltd. would like to wish Suretank well with the new Office project and continued success with the business

Felix O’Hare Ltd, 88 Chancellors Road, Cloughoge, Newry, Co. Down. BT35 8NG Fax: 028 3026 1397 Email: admin@felixohare.co.uk www.felixohare.co.uk

Telephone: 028 3026 1134

CI CIVIL

Greystones Harbour from the site taken from a ‘borrow pit’. project was 60,000cu m.

The dredge material from the seabed was Following dredging, stone underlayer was used as reclamation fill above high water. placed on the footprint of the precast The main construction phase involved blocks and rock armour revetment in four drive crews each supported by four two separate layers. Later, a 200mm crawler cranes, two dredging barges layer of blinding stone was placed and associated hopper barges, as well over this using a screed frame. as a land-based subcontractor who Benefiting Wicklow, the constructed the rock armour revetments. project is now complete.

The first stage of breakwater construction was dredging. The seabed was firm to stiff boulder clay with up to 200mm of overlying sand.

Generally, the CIVIL ENGINEERING CONTRACTORS • SPECIALISTS IN MARINE WORKS formation levels COASTAL DEFENCES AND DREDGING • LONG REACH EXCAVATORS BARGES AND PONTOONS were 500mm to 1,000mm below the existing seabed, 30c Ballygelagh Road, Kircubbin, Newtownards, Co. Down BT22 1AE up to 2,000mm Tel: 028 4277 2781 Fax: 028 4277 2685 in areas. The total volume of Email: info@ashleighcontracts.com dredged material Web: www.ashleighcontracts.com removed in the

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Work to regenerate the dilapidated harbour at the Victorian village of Greystones, south of Dublin, is now complete.

The scope of work for the marine contract included the construction of north and south breakwater, construction of marina pier, marina quay, new harbour steps and public slipway, coastal protection, and land reclamation.

The north and south breakwaters are constructed from precast concrete blocks founding on a prepared stone bed over dredged sea bed, while the concrete blocks are protected on the seaward side with a revetment consisting rock armour and antifer units.

The marina pier is constructed from precast concrete blocks founding on a prepared stone bed over dredged seabed, while the quay consists of driven tubular bearing piles and a rock revetment.

An insitu concrete structure on reclaimed land is what makes up the harbour steps and the slipway is a piled structure with precast and insitu concrete elements.

Land reclamation was carried out below high water using existing granular material

PROFILE CI

Antrim Borough Council

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The Public Realm scheme The Public Realm scheme, which is taking place in Antrim town and co-ordinated by Antrim Borough Council, is a two-phase project that will see full completion at the end of this year. Being delivered in two phases, the first, which is completed, is around Market Square while Phase II is on High Street/Church Street/Castle Way. This work is one of the major outcomes for Antrim Borough Council’s Masterplan for Antrim town centre. The Masterplan was produced following extensive consultation with local businesses and the community and in partnership with relevant statutory agencies. One of the key projects was to implement a major public realm enhancement scheme to help transform the streetscape and access in and around the town centre.

The Department for Social Development (DSD) subsequently realised the potential of Antrim town centre and commissioned its own Regeneration Strategy. In 2011, the Minister for Social Development agreed to a budget of just under £2M to fund a Public Realm scheme, including match funding from Antrim Borough Council. The scheme detailed the introduction of new high street lighting and street furniture distinctive to Antrim town centre and designed to complement the character of the built environment. The footways were to be repaved in high quality granite to enhance their visual appearance and encourage a feeling of civic pride. New parking bays were to be introduced and a new Northern Ireland Water main installed along High Street and Church Street. These combined elements were to highlight the distinctiveness and uniqueness of Antrim town centre.

Phase I centred around Market Square, which is in a conservation area and is bordered by the Old Courthouse which hosts a theatre, café and information centre.

Market Square has been redesigned to

accommodate a public events space and a new bus lane, which will greatly increase pedestrian numbers in this area of the town and ease congestion along High Street. A key benefit from the scheme is the provision of access for Translink buses from Dublin Road passing through Market Square. This will help regenerate the area by creating additional footfall for local businesses and demand for local goods and services.

The potential for the evening economy is also likely to increase.

There is no doubt these works will provide linkages to important town centre locations including Antrim Castle Gardens and the Six Mile Water river to develop further regeneration opportunities.

As Antrim town centre is located within a designated conservation area with notable listed buildings, all of the design team have worked closely with Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA), Protecting Historic Buildings Branch and Planning NI’s Conservation Advisor to ensure the scheme is consistent with the Department’s Planning Policy Statement

6: Heritage and the Built Environment.

The Main Contractor for the project is BSG Civil Engineering Ltd. Belfastbased Consultants URS Infrastructure and Environment Ltd were appointed to design and implement the scheme.

Mark Hinsley Arboricultural Consultants Ltd.

PROFILE CI

Spraoi Linn is an Irish company based in Co. Wexford with a long established reputation for meeting their client’s needs across a broad spectrum of leisure activities, with an emphasis on quality design, function, safety and environmental issues.

As the agents for Swedish company HAGS and the German company X-Move, Spraoi Linn also has experience in the design and build of concrete skate parks and concrete climbing walls. EZ Dock and the IKC systems have also been added to their product portfolio.

EZDock is a robust modular pontoon and dock system developed over the last 20 years to meet the needs of all marine activities. It is quick and easy to assemble and flexible enough for a wide range of commercial uses (work platforms, nature trails, advertisements, film industry, public event platforms, fireworks displays and fish farms) The Company’s services are extensive and are aimed at local authorities, community groups, crèches, schools, retail industry, as well as private customers.

Their “Instore Kids Corners” range of products is designed specifically for the retail sector to turn play into profit.

Spraoi Linn’s flagship project was the development of the largest play structure in Ireland at the new Tayto Theme Park in Ashbourne, County Meath.

The core play area comprises a bespoke, large 13 tower multi-play unit with giant tube slides, climbing walls and other fun elements along with numerous other individual play items throughout this one of a kind park.

Spraoi Linn has also constructed the largest outdoor tube slide in the country for Tayto Theme Park. It is a 21m high tube slide that is one of the biggest in Europe.

The National Roads Authority has also benefited from the Company’s work, with indoor and outdoor play areas provided at a number of the new super motorway service stations.

Spraoi Linn has continued to grow each year since its establishment and has now built more skate parks in Ireland than any other company. This growth is set to continue as more of their projects come online.

Spraoi Linn, Ballygarran House, Kilmuckridge, County Wexford.

Inch, Gorey, Co. Wexford

Tel: 0402 21925

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Spraoi Linn

Celuplast Ltd. (Ireland) Unit 52, Baldoyle Industrial Estate, Baldoyle, Dublin 13.

Ph: (01) 832 6210 Fax: (01) 832 6277 Email: info@celuplast.com www.celuplast.com

CI COMMERCIAL

Navan Enterprise Centre Paving the way for Epicom’s expansion The expansion of Navan Enterprise Centre in County Meath is now complete and is expected to create 30 new jobs within its first year.

Located on a five-acre site on the Trim Road, the building currently runs to approximately 85,000sq ft.

The Centre is divided into 38 units, both large and small, and currently accommodates 20 businesses including three training facilities and a large factory unit.

Work was required to accommodate an expansion of production at Epicom Ireland Ltd, by allowing the Company to work on a three-shift basis. With additional warehousing space, Epicom will be able to properly store the product from the evening and night shift until it can be dispatched the next day.

Navan Enterprise Centre Company Ltd has been in operation for almost 15 years. In that period, the Company has transformed a run-down building that was Navan Exhibition Centre into a modern complex of offices and production units.

Ground conditions for building were good and the site was level because

the area where the extension is now windows have been fitted and there is located was previously an external also a Coxdome hinged access rooflight. loading/unloading bay area.

Designed by Foster Associates Architects, The three-storey extension comprises the building is DDA compliant and has 11,168sq ft and has a large open plan CCTV and alarms for security purposes. warehouse with racking as well as toilets, Built by Delcross Construction Ltd, office space and light office storage. work commenced in October 2012 It matches the existing building and is a and was completed in June 2013. straightforward rectangular structure, with the company leasing Dean Hill, Hayes, the premises taking Navan, Co. Meath charge of the fit Tel./Fax: 046-9024417 out, which mainly Email: tfoster@iol.ie consisted of racking.

The external façade comprises Kingspan wall cladding Foster Associates Architects was established in 1999, their work includes and Acheson and Commercial, Industrial, Residential and Domestic Projects.

Glover blockwork to match the existing Principal Architect, Trevor Foster, is a Registered Architect, Member of the building, while the RIAI, Conservation Architect (Grade 3) and a RIAI accredited PSDP. extension also has a Kingspan pitched Foster Associates Architects wish Navan Enterprise Centre Company Ltd. continued success in the future. roof. Aluminium double glazed ●

● ●

CI CIVIL

Tullamore Grand Canal Corridor Featuring a new footbridge

Work in Phase I also saw the refurbishment of Bury Quay Crane, the reinvigoration of Tullamore Dew Heritage Centre and the enhancement and improvement of Bury Bridge, the new footbridge is being the linear landscaping along the canal. constructed over the canal adjacent to it.

Phase II, which is currently ongoing, will see Work on the development will be the construction of a footbridge adjacent completed in September 2013. to Bury Bridge. It is heavily trafficked and provides no pedestrian facilities even though large volumes of school children from three different schools use it.

All are within minutes of the Bridge, which is not only narrow but contains a Geashill, Tullamore, Co. Affaly sharp curve that reduces visibility for motorists.

Because pedestrian facilities can’t be provided on

BALLYCRYSTAL ENTERPRISES IRELAND LTD.

Tel: 087 2559 963

35

The two-phase project of Tullamore Grand Canal corridor is on schedule to be completed next month.

Phase I saw the construction of a boardwalk that is 70 metres long on the south bank of the Grand Canal directly in front of the Tullamore Dew Heritage Centre, which greatly enhances the amenity of the area.

A new pedestrian bridge has been provided from Bury Quay to Clontarf Road, which has long been an objective of Tullamore Town Council. In addition, the previously existing steel footbridge, which dated back to 1934, has been replaced.

Undergrounding of cables was part of Phase I. Located at Bury Quay and its approaches; this is vital to enhance the visual amenity of this area. Three canal bridges received an upgrading of lighting.

This was done to highlight their architectural and heritage value. Sustainable trace lighting was used, which also minimises any impact on the flora and fauna of the canal, and in particular, bat life, which is a feature of this area. Therefore, the work adheres with wildlife legislation and habitat directives.

CIVIL CI

Monaincha Wind Farm Element Power building near the existing grid infrastructure Located near to the town of Roscrea in North Tipperary, Monaincha Wind Farm will be a 36MW wind farm consisting of 15 Nordex 117 turbines.

Each turbine will generate 2.4MW. The site itself is a combination of bog, the peat from which has been previously used for home heating purposes and horticultural use, and virgin forestry owned by the Irish state forestry company, Coillte. There is another portion of the site owned by farmers.

Although not a high-speed site, it is an attractive site because of the proximity to the existing Irish grid infrastructure.

It’s quite a large open area with the capacity to develop a relatively large wind farm, and also has good access via the local road network, which makes this a very useful site.

Work is being undertaken on behalf of Element Power, a global renewable energy developer that develops, acquires, builds, owns and operates a portfolio of wind and solar power generation facilities worldwide.

Element Power is present in 16 countries, with 71 MW in operation and approximately 9,000MW of projects in development. The Company’s market-leading management and development teams have vast experience, having already developed many thousands of megawatts of renewable power across Europe, North and Latin America, and Asia.

Owned by Hudson Clean Energy Partners, Element Power’s key values are reputation

and integrity, project delivery, value creation and innovation. In today’s highly dynamic renewable energy sector, the Company is uniquely positioned to bring new renewable energy projects to reality.

Because the Monaincha site is a relatively low wind speed site, Element Power has done a lot of work with the turbine manufacturer, wind analysis team and design team to make the best use of the site and get the best technologies to it.

The turbines used on site from Nordex are the first to have been used in Ireland or the UK. It’s still one of the first commercial uses of this turbine in Europe or the world.

These turbines have a very large rotor diameter of 17m and blades that are 58.5m long, which is an exceptional distance.

Element Power has had to do a lot of work with the technical advisers for the banks and the financiers of the project because of the use of new technology and Nordex obviously had to do a lot of work to ensure a high performance.

That was the main challenge from a technical perspective.

The other big challenge with this project has been the ground conditions.

Quite a lot of the site has a top layer of peat and then bog, but that wasn’t even

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the biggest challenge, as the conditions beneath that were even worse.

From the site investigation carried out, it became clear that there was a soft clay type of material that would be fine for road building, but not for the turbine foundations or the hard standing areas.

What the construction team had to do was come up with a design that involved piling everything on top of the foundation, which made it a more expensive build, and great attempts were made to upsize the amount of piling while minimising the cost.

The Main Civil Engineering Contractor for the project is Moriarty, and the Project Manager for the project is Conor Calnan.

Work on the wind farm started in April 2013, with the majority of infrastructure construction expected to be complete by the end of this year. The turbines will arrive around that time and commercial operation is expected to be in the second quarter of next year.

OLIVER DOUGLAS & SONS HARDWARE, ERGAS AGENT BUILDERS PROVIDERS, D.I.Y. CENTRE, ELECTRICAL GOODS

ROSEMARY SQUARE ROSCREA TEL: (0505) 21865 FAX: (0505) 22496

Prendergast Plant Swamp & Soft Ground Specialist

Dromady - Claremorris - Co Mayo Mobile: David - 087 9025800 Stephen - 087 6127363 Email prendergastplant@gmail.com

Workplace Safety Inspections / Audits Safety Statements & Safety Procedures Full / Part Time Safety Advisers PSDP & PSCS for Construction Projects Specialists in Wind Farm Safety Management Method Statements with Hazard & Risk Assessments Traffic Management Plans Safety & Health Plans & Safety Files Safety Training (Manual Handling, Abrasive Wheels, First Aid, etc.)

‘Safe Pass’ & C.S.C.S. Training

Workplace Safety Advisors since 1991

‘Corrigan House’ Bishopstown Road, Wilton, Cork Fax: 021 4347214

Email: allsafe@allsafe.ie

Website: www.allsafe.ie

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Tel: 021 4347436

COMMUNITY CI

Mount Stewart House & Gardens Work continuing on major restoration project

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The project to restore Mount Stewart is well underway. It will bring back the elegance and charm of the house that was home to the seventh Marchioness Edith, Lady Londonderry and her family in the early 20th century.

The project includes important repairs and improvements to the structure and services of this precious house.

As well as the construction to the house, its treasures are being carefully repaired and important research carried out to restore and bring back to life the family home of the Londonderry’s.

Work is required because of a failing drainage system, serious cracking to walls, ceilings and archways, and the house requires a new conservation heating system and completely rewiring.

In addition, there was a real commitment to lift the presentation of the house away from the ‘shabby chic’ look to a more vibrant one and return Mount Stewart to one of the places to be seen.

Before building work could commence, the contents of each room needed to be recorded, packed and stored safely. A purpose built store has been created in the chapel by joiners.

More than 40 volunteers from the local community helped the project conservator look after the special contents of the house and the curator worked with various experts in areas such as paintwork, textiles, furniture, ceramics and glass, plasterwork and much more.

During Phase I of the project in 2012, a series of technical surveys were completed, which provided the information needed to create detailed designs and plans for the work.

The surveys included flooding, drainage and plumbing, electrical and structural surveys, and 3D laser survey

by Queen’s University Belfast.

With the drainage works, the culvert runs from the lake down through the

property under the courtyard and reception right through the gardens and under the main road before heading out into Strangford Lough.

Excess water from the property should drain through this culvert down into the Lough, but over time the culvert has collapsed in places, causing water to back up and flood the property and the gardens, especially during high tides.

Part of the conservation project will be to identify the damaged areas and repair the drainage system to prevent future flooding.

Cracks were clearly visible around the house and the cause of these has now been established – unsupported joists beneath the floors that are too long. A method has been designed to strengthen these using a series of brackets and long threaded bars.

This has been successfully trialled in the Hague bedroom and will be rolled out to the other first floor rooms that require strengthening.

The strengthening work to the gallery in the central hall is progressing well, with the project’s apprentice joiner making a template for the spindles that will form the balustrade using his wood turning lathe.

During a tour of the house, visitors can see the purpose made structure inside the chapel, which is being used to house many of the contents.

Alongside the extra conservation demands during the project, the house team continues the daily maintenance of the house and contents. This includes ongoing cleaning of rooms, conservation of objects and environmental monitoring such as temperature control and controlling light exposure and pest checks.

As part of the project, some of the contents of Mount Stewart will receive special attention. This is undertaken by independent specialist conservators who will work at the house from time to time.

Fergus Purdy, Furniture Conservator, is

currently working on the furniture in house, while Cathy McClintock, Textile Conservator, is looking after curtains and upholstery.

Jane McCree is the Painting Conservator who is working with the many important works of art in Mount Stewart.

Work on site has already seen the completion of the new estate office and pantry, structural strengthening works to central hall atrium floor, improvements to the main central hall skylight glazing system, new glazing system for the central hall lay light, lime plaster repairs to existing surfaces, repairs to existing sash windows and decoration of existing and new surfaces.

Irwin Electrical Services Ltd has undertaken the refurbishment of all electrical services within the developments. This included lighting, power, external lighting and associated distribution services. All mains power distribution circuits were cabled in MICS type cable, to give extra longevity to the final installation. As well as upgrades to mains power associated services to the intruder alarms, fire alarms, access control & IT systems. Much of the building remained in use whilst the works were in progress, meaning extra care had to be taken to install services, causing minimal disruption.

The Main Contractor is H&J Martin, and Maurice Ferguson, the Project Manager, said: “Mount Stewart is a bit different from most buildings you get to work on and the technical challenges are ever present, but finding solutions are what I enjoy the best.”

The team has hit early sustainable objectives for the project, and also provided training opportunities with South Eastern Regional College for mechanical and electrical apprentices.

H&J Martin is also working alongside the National Trust and Construction Industry Training Board to provide a number of heritage placement opportunities.

Maurice Stevenson Ltd

building services contractors since 1921

NI Office: 32 Annesborough Industrial Estate, Lurgan, Craigavon BT67 9JD Tel: +44 (0) 28 38 32 76 36 email: mech@mauricestevenson.co.uk London Office: 9 Pensbury Street, London SW8 4TL Tel: +44 (0) 20 77 38 89 87 email: mech@mauricestevenson.co.uk

www.mauricestevenson.co.uk

The project consisted of major upgrading to mechanical services throughout the grade A listed building to improve the energy efficiency, living & visitor experience within the attraction. The following systems were modified & updated by highly skilled tradesmen in a manner sympathetic to the architectural heritage of the building • Ventilation Installations • DHW Plant Installation • Plumbing Installations • Recycled Water Installations • Sanitaryware & Disposal Installations • Conservation Heating Controls Installations • BEMS Controls Installations

Preserve. Stabilise. Waterproof.

Stronghold Preservation is a leading specialist in the Preservation of Historic Buildings. Stronghold successfully carried out the installation of Structural Anchors to the Verdun & Versailles rooms at Mount Stewart.

13 Conyngham Street, Moneymore, Magherafelt, BT45 7PX

Tel: 028 8674 8572

Email: info@strongholdpreservation.com

www.strongholdpreservation.com

Doors ● Windows ● Screens Mouldings ● Reception Desks ● Kitchens Washrooms ● Stairs Unit 4 Diviny Drive, Carn, Portadown, Northern Ireland, BT63 5WE

Tel: +44 (0)28 3839 7990 Email: info@irwinelectrical.com www.irwinelectrical.com

41a Quarterlands Road, Drumbeg, Lisburn, BT27 5TN

info@greenwoodspecialistjoinery.co.uk T. 07584 014090 www.greenwoodspecialistjoinery.co.uk

39

Irwin Electrical providing the Electrical services upgrade on the Mount Stewart Restoration project.

We are pleased to be suppliers of specialist joinery to the Mount Stewart Visitor Centre and wish all involved continued success.

HOUSING CI

Riverside Nursing Home A recent extension at the Riverside Nursing Home in Ballystrahan has addressed the need to provide further facilities for an ageing population.

The demand for spaces at the home in North Dublin – an area that has the highest occupancy rates in Ireland up at 97% according to a National Survey in 2008 – meant that the brief sought to increase resident’s numbers from 24 to 50, in a mix of single and twin rooms.

This was achieved by providing a 22-bedroom extension to the existing 16-bedroom nursing home, with a design that involved a full spatial study of the existing accommodation along with the new proposed accommodation to ensure on completion of the new works the Nursing Home as a whole fully complied with the National Quality Standards for Residential Care Settings for Older People in Ireland (HIQA) guidelines introduced in February 2009.

The study addressed design elements such as a mix of single and twin rooms, required bedroom/social space per resident, sanitary and washing facilities, dining facilities, outdoor spaces and support spaces for staff.

A full landscape proposal for the site included a number of safe external spaces adjacent to the nursing home including an inner courtyard.

The design provided for the complete removal of three bed-space bedrooms with an improved percentage of bedrooms with single occupancy and ensuite facilities in accordance with HIQA Guidelines. Circulation spaces and an inner ‘feature street’ provide interest for residents moving between spaces.

Located to the south west of the site, the single-storey extension matches the existing building with all finishes sympathetic to the current structure. The main features of the Nursing Home are the circulation spaces with stop-off points to take in external views around the Nursing Home and the comfortable bedrooms and social spaces for the residents.

Work has been undertaken on a live site and all contractors were mindful of this.

The nursing home also incorporates energy saving features such as air to water heat pump technology, underfloor heating throughout with controlled zones, dual lux level light fittings to all bedrooms

For inside the home you will find we have an extensive range of bathroom equipment, copper and plastic plumbing, doors, D.I.Y. equipment, locks, paints and brushes, power tools, radiators and much more.

40

For outside the home, we supply cement, flue liners, gutter and sewer piping, insulation, oil and gas burners, oil storage, pumps, roofing and timber as well as roof windows.

Commons Road, Navan, Co Meath Phone: 046 9028851 Fax: 046 9023121 E-mail: info@commonshardware.ie Web: www.commonshardware.ie

providing daytime lux levels and night time monitoring lux levels in the one light fitting, as well as rainwater harvesting.

Constant communication and discussions took place between the design team, contractor and nursing home management to minimise disruption.

This included constant reviews of the health and safety aspects of delivering works, especially the linking of the new and existing roof structures and any ground level interface works.

The Architect for the project was Cantrell and Crowley, whose expertise covers a broad spectrum with projects undertaken in the commercial and hotel and leisure sectors, as well as a number of multiple residential schemes and one-off houses.

Cantrell and Crowley’s greatest challenge was meeting the HIQA guidelines to address the existing situation with the new works within an agreed budget. Constant refining of design at the planning stage helped this process, along with a very helpful Main Contractor in Zilic Developments.

Work started in July 2012 and was completed in May 2013, costing £1.4M.

Unit 2, Block D, Corlurgan Business Park, Cavan.

Tel: 049 4372748 Mobile: 086 8180915 (After Hours) Email: info@dehs.ie

www.dehs.ie

CI CIVIL

Five Villages Sewerage Scheme Improving water and sewerage services in Longford and will boost the local economy.” the plants and pump stations constructed.

The works consist of the construction of five Each site is being landscaped in a dual-cell SBRs (Sequential Batch Reactors) manner that integrates the works into for the treatment of raw sewerage. They vary its surrounding environment while also in size from 1,800PE for Newtownforbes enhancing the site appearance. plant to 300PE for the Ardagh plant.

At a total cost of e13M, work on the Carty Contracts Ltd, Ballisodare, Co Sligo, project started in June 2012 and will working as a subcontractor to the Main be completed in December 2013.

Contractor, who is Electrical & Pumping Services (EPS) Ltd, Mallow, County Cork, constructed the plants’ infrastructures.

EPS also carried out the electrical and mechanical installations on the project.

The new wastewater treatment plants for Ardagh, Aughnacliffe and Ballinalee were on a greenfield site, while the plants at Drumlish and Newtownforbes Continued success to EPS are on existing sites, with the 5 Villages scheme-Longford. constructed around the existing plants that had to be kept Vacuum Sewer Systems: Networks in difficult terrain. ‘live’ during the Systems running in Ireland since 2002, Dublin, construction phase.

Kildare, Tipperary and Longford.

Structures consist of reinforced concrete SBR tanks, glass lined Vacuum Toilets: Reduced water consumption. sludge tanks and a blockwork control Waterless Urinals: No water consumption. building. This houses the electrical control panels, offices and store rooms.

FLOVAC SYSTEMS LTD., PO BOX 11162, BALDOYLE, DUBLIN 13 The control building T: +353 (0)86 255 0992 F: +353 (0)1 832 6491 has both fire and E: fergus@flovac.ie. www.flovac.ie intruder alarms as well as health and safety facilities for the operators, while the development will include both hard and soft landscaping of all

41

Upgrades for sewerage treatment plants are underway in Longford, with two of the three contracts already completed.

The work for Longford Five Villages Sewerage Scheme has been divided into three individual contracts.

The first contract provided collection networks for Ardagh, Aughnacliffe and Ballinalee, while contract three provided collection networks for Drumlish and Newtownforbes.

Both of these are completed.

Contract two provides for the design, supply, construction, installation, testing and commissioning, operation and maintenance of all plant, materials and equipment to provide new wastewater treatment plants for the five villages, procured through a design, build and operate process.

A preliminary report for the Ardagh, Aughnacliffe and Ballinalee Sewerage schemes was first prepared in 1990 and highlighted the need for three new plants.

This was re-examined and updated in 2004 when a Design Review Report was prepared. Because the three villages did not have a piped foul sewer collection network, a separate foul sewer system was required to pick up effluent from existing dwellings, mainly served by septic tanks.

A preliminary report for the Drumlish and Newtownforbes Sewerage schemes was prepared in 2005 and it recommended the upsizing of existing sewers and construction of new sewers in Drumlish and Newtownforbes, as well as the construction of new wastewater treatment plants at the existing sites in Drumlish and Newtownforbes.

Ardagh, Aughnacliffe and Ballinalee villages were then bundled together with the villages of Drumlish and Newtownforbes to form the Five Villages Sewerage Scheme.

When the contracts were signed, County Manager, Tim Caffrey, welcomed the investment, stating: “These contracts will significantly improve the quality of water services in County Longford

CIVIL CI

Roscommon Towns and Villages Sewerage Scheme Providing wastewater treatment facilities Roscommon County Council has worked hard to improve the sewerage in the towns and villages in the area, which has seen a number of schemes completed in the last two years.

This comprises of the provision of new and upgraded wastewater treatment plants and sewerage networks for 14 towns and villages ranging in size from 500 to 3,200 PE. The Main Contractor was EPS, who was appointed as the contractor for the Roscommon Towns and Villages Sewerage Scheme (DBO Contract No 9) at the offices of the Council, back in June 2011.

The contract provided wastewater treatment facilities to serve the villages of Arigna, Ballinlough, Ballyleague, Cootehall, Creagh, Elphin, Frenchpark, Hodson Bay, Knockcroghery, Liscaul, Loughglynn, Strokestown and Tulsk under a single DBO contract.

The project consisted of three new plants on greenfield sites at Arigna, Creagh and Hodson Bay, and seven new plants or extension to existing plants on existing sites at Ballinlough, Ballyleague,

Elphin, French Park, Knockcroghery, Loughglynn, and Strokestown.

For the Cootehall, Liscaul and Tulsk sites, which were built in 2007, EPS took over the operations of these plants by October 2011. EPS provided interim operations at all of the sites with existing wastewater treatment plants from the date of commencement of construction on the site.

The Towns and Villages Sewerage Scheme was included for funding under the Department of the Environment Water Services Investment Programme 2010-2012.

Local TD Denis Naughten welcomed the signing of contracts by Roscommon County Council for the construction of a new sewerage treatment plant for the village of Knockcroghery.

He stated that the investment in Knockcroghery village is an important piece of infrastructure, not only for the existing homes and businesses, but also for the longterm development of the local community.

The Architect was J.B. Barry and Partners Ltd, who prepared the preliminary

report for the scheme. The Company was subsequently appointed for the detailed design, contract documents and construction supervision stages.

J.B. Barry and Partners has been involved in a number of regional water supply schemes in County Roscommon. Pipeline contracts include South Roscommon, Lisbrock to Athlone – 23km of rising mains, trunk mains, and distribution mains, as well as the reservoir at Feamore.

The Company has also worked at South Roscommon, Killeglan to Athlone, Roscommon Central RWSS, Boyle/ Ardcarne RWSS, and Arigna RWSS. The DBO Contract No 9 scheme was procured using the FIDIC Conditions of Contract. The project was a design, build and operate form of contract with a design build period of approximately two years and an operate and maintenance period of 20 years, making the total contract period 22 years.

Work started in December 2011 and was completed in June 2013.

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Mobile: 086 258 4675 Email: deltavalves@eircom.net

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White Heather Industrial Estate, 301 South Circular Road, Dublin 8 tel: 01 416 5170 Fax: 01 416 5175 Website: www.bss.ie

CI CIVIL

Longford Central RWSS Pipelines & Reservoirs Contract Improved water supply in the area efficiency and minimum negative impact could be accommodated. on stakeholders and the public.

The pipeline had to be laid across land that The Company has a skilled and vastly the Council didn’t own so the Council had experienced staff and some have worked to work with the landowner, get permission at Carty for more than 30 years. The and agree when work will be done. majority of plant and equipment required At £3.8M, work started in May 2012 for projects are owned by the Company. and was completed in May 2013, and The head office provides back up and the higher quality of service meant that support to the site project team. reservoirs never went down when supplying What Carty Contractors has brought to the all areas during the 2013 summer. project is a boost to the local economy because the Company used local suppliers and subcontractors.

The project was not SUPPLIERS OF ALL TYPES OF CRUSHED ROCK, READYMIX without its challenges.

CONCRETE, SITE CLEARANCE & BULK EXCAVATION Upgrading existing infrastructure sometimes resulted in ● SUPPLIERS OF CRUSHED ROCK AND READYMIX CONCRETE having to cut supplies ● BULK EXCAVATION for a period, but the Council put in place ● TIPPER TRUCK HIRE good public relations that advised people ● PLANT HIRE of any anticipated ● CONSTRUCTION AND DEMOLITION WASTE COLLECTION disruptions that were going to occur. Local ● CONSTRUCTION AND DEMOLITION TIP HEAD radio was used to keep people informed Delighted to be a supplier to Carty Contractors and water supplies were turned on as on the Longford RWSS scheme and wish them quickly as possible. continued success for the future At the water treatment plant, it was quite confined KILLOE, CO. LONGFORD. and the existing plant Tel: (043) 3323687 or 3323889 still had to be kept in Fax: (043) 3323803 operation while work was ongoing. Doing DRUMLISH, CO. LONGFORD this was a matter Tel: (043) 3329816 of planning ahead Fax: (043) 3323803 and cooperating Mobile: (087) 2623489 with maintenance and operation staff to ensure Email: rhynerock@eircom.net Carty Contractors Web: www.rhynerock.net

43

The construction of an insitu concrete reservoir in County Longford has significantly improved the quality of water services in the area.

Longford Central Regional Water Supply Scheme (RWSS) includes the supply of water from Lough Forbes water treatment works to the town of Longford and the surrounding area.

Longford County Council divided the works on the Longford Central into two projects. The first contract was the pipelines and reservoirs, while the other was the upgrade of Lough Forbes water treatment works to relieve overloading.

Work consisted of the provision of a new rising main and distribution main between Lough Forbes water treatment works and Prucklish Reservoir. It also provided a new rising main between Glannagh Pumping Station and Lisnanagh Reservoir and also the provision of a new main between Prucklish Reservoir and Drumlish village.

The project has resulted in a new 5,000cu m insitu concrete reservoir at Prucklish and a 750cu m precast reservoir at Lisnanagh.

The water treatment works was previously operating at full capacity and as a result would sometimes pump more water through the plant resulting in quality issues. The upgrading work at Lough Forbes WTP resulted in a vast improvement in the quality of the water being produced.

Carty Contractors Ltd was the Main Contractor for the Pipelines & Reservoirs Contract, and they operate as civil engineering contractors providing services to public and private customers.

Clients include local authorities, ESB, ESBI, Coillte, IDA and Eircom. The Company has a proven history of delivering projects in accordance with clients’ expectations.

Carty Contractors pays particular attention to developing a good working relationship with clients and their representatives.

The customer focus ensures that all projects can be completed with maximum

PROFILE CI

McGurran Construction Delivering successful projects across Ireland

44

McGurran Construction is an established, family owned, construction and development company based in Derrygonnelly, County Fermanagh, which operates throughout the North and South of Ireland.

Established in 1994, McGurran Construction builds for clients in the public and private sectors and for its own account. The Company has established an enviable reputation for the successful and timely completion of a wide variety of commercial and residential projects throughout Northern and North West Ireland.

Despite difficult trading conditions in the construction sector, McGurran Construction based in Derrygonnelly,

continues to win new contracts in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

Systems & Business Development Manager, Aine Burns, points to the ability of the Company and staff to adjust to changing market conditions as the main reason for continued success. “We have continued to build on our procurement levels with achieving high success rates on Pre-Qualification Questionnaires and overall winning of contracts. This has been a credit to our staff all over the organisation.�

Recently awarded new contracts include five social housing projects in Aughnacloy, Belfast and Armagh, which are all being built to Code of

Sustainable Level 3 & 4. McGurran is also involved in constructing a Fountain Youth Centre, Kesh, Co Fermanagh.

Nearing completion is the construction of 17 social housing dwellings in Rosemount, Co Derry, which are being built to Code of Sustainable Level 3 and the recent completion of 63 homes at Dove Gardens, Derry.

In addition, the Company has been awarded the contract for construction of Monaghan Fire Station in Co Monaghan.

Managing Director, Ronan McGurran, attributes this success to the extensive streamlining and systemisation of the business undertaken over recent years. continue page 46 >

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BENCHMARK Kreate – the only one-component metallic façade system on the market.

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FAÇADE & ROOF SYSTEMS

“We have responded to the ever increasing demands of our clients for environmentally friendly processes and competitive pricing, keeping best in class customer service as our main priority at all times.

“Our ability to do this is very much down to the flexibility and support of our loyal staff, subcontractors and suppliers.

“It’s great to have £8M on order book for the first quarter and we are currently looking to improve on this by actively tendering for further opportunities both in Ireland and now in Scotland.”

Projects:

Business Development Centre

Letterkenny Institute of Technology Completed in 2008, the contract consisted of the construction of a 1,240sq m two-storey reinforced concrete frame and structural steel extension to the existing Business Development Centre. The works also consisted of modifications within the existing building in order to connect the extension.

Both internally and externally the building has been finished to high specifications and standards.

A high level of on site co-ordination was required from McGurran Construction in order to maintain safety and ensure the site ran well alongside a ‘live’ building.

Dove Gardens McGurran Construction was awarded this contract by North & West Housing Ltd to build 63 houses. Located on the former Dove Gardens site, the development will replace the flats previously sited there. The development will provide timber frame residential units, varying in size from two- to four-bedrooms in a mix of one-, two- and three-storey terraced dwellings.

For further information on the Company please contact: info@mcgurranconstruction.com

IL Contracts WORKS UNDERTAKEN: SITE CLEARANCE & REMOVAL OF MATERIALS ● MAKING-UP ACCESS ● EXCAVATIONS FOUNDATIONS ● FOOTINGS ● HARD STANDINGS DRAINAGE (ALL TYPES OF COMMERCIAL & RESIDENTIAL) ● PIPING DUCTING/TRENCHES SERVICES ● UTILITY SERVICES ● GULLIES ● UNDERPINNING KERBING / PIN-KERBING ● PAVIA ● PAVING SLABS ● FOOTPATHS / PATHS ● DRIVEWAYS MAKING-UP ROADS ● ISLANDS ● ROUNDABOUTS ● ALL TYPES OF FENCING DREDGING ● DISABLED ACCESS (RAMPS & RAILS) ● STEPS BRICK / BLOCK WORK ● RETAINING WALLS ● HARD LANDSCAPING CONCRETE SAWING & CUTTING ● CAR-PARKS ● CULVERTS ● DECKING ● STEEL FAB

46

2 Magheraglass Road, Cookstown, Co. Tyrone, BT80 9HX

Contact Ian Lyttle: 07703 497121 Email: ian@ilcontracts.com

We are pleased to be associated with McGurran Construction and wish them continued success for the future The Grange, Cosbystown, Enniskillen, County Fermanagh, BT93 7ER

Tel: 07894 666670 Email: structsteeleng@hotmail.co.uk

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CIVIL CI

Oranmore Station

48

Opened in time for the Galway Races A new railway station was officially opened in July in time for the Galway Races.

Minister for Transport, Tourism & Sport Leo Varadkar was on hand after Iarnrod Eireann’s newest station, Oranmore, was completed.

The station will be served by a mixture of Galway/Dublin & Galway/Athenry/Limerick services, with 23 services calling at the station between Monday and Friday, 22 on Saturdays and 15 on Sundays. The journey time from Oranmore to Galway is as little as seven minutes and customers can travel to Limerick, Dublin and a range of intermediate stations as well.

The official opening took place almost 162 years to the day since the first Oranmore Station opened on 1st August 1851 when the Midland Great Western Railway opened the Mullingar to Galway line, which was a distance of 76 miles – the longest section of railway ever to open in any day in Ireland.

Oranmore Station features a platform and ticket vending machine with help points for those with mobility and sensory impairments. Bicycle parking and car parking facilities are also provided.

The car park is owned and operated

by Galway County Council and will

provide 140 spaces at the station.

The National Transport Authority, who has also approved the timetable changes, has funded the construction of the station.

Speaking at the opening, Leo Varadkar T.D said: “I’m delighted to be here to officially open the new Oranmore train station, 162 years after a train station was first opened.

“Oranmore is the second train station I have opened in the last month and the 144th station on the Iarnrod Eireann network.

It will be a huge benefit to commuters on the Galway line, who can reach the city centre in just seven to ten minutes.

“Fifty years ago last month regular scheduled passenger services ceased calling at Oranmore. Now the train calls at Oranmore once again.”

Jim Meade, Director of Train Operations said: “Oranmore is a busy town with a thriving, vibrant community and it is my wish that as many people as possible utilise our services.

“Anyone who has travelled by road into Galway from here is familiar with the gridlock that can occur between here and the city centre, so with a journey time of between seven and ten minutes, the train will be a very favourable commuting option.”

A subsidiary of Coras Iompair Eireann, Iarnrod Eireann provides passenger and freight rail services as well as operating Rosslare Europort.

Intercity rail passenger services operate between Dublin and Belfast, Sligo, Ballina, Westport, Galway, Limerick, Ennis, Tralee, Cork, Waterford and Rosslare Europort and Iarnrod Eireann jointly operates the Dublin to Belfast Enterprise service with Northern Ireland Railways.

Regional services include the new Limerick to Galway line, Cork commuter network including the new Cork-Middleton line, Limerick Junction to Waterford, and Limerick to Ballybrophy (via Nenagh) services.

In addition to the DART service, which operates between Greystones and Howth/ Malahide, the Company also runs the commuter service in the Dublin area between Gorey, Drogheda, the new M3 Parkway line and Maynooth, as well as the commuter service to Kildare.

The new station is part of the development of Phase I of the Western Rail Corridor and the West on Track Community Campaign said: “We warmly congratulate continued page 50 >

ELECTRIC HEATING Make your Home Improvements better with HSS The HSS Group is the nationwide tool and equipment hire chain that serves large industries, trade and all DIY customers.

HSS Galway successfully operates two facilities. Our main store located at the Tuam Road Retail Centre and our recently re-launched Oranmore Depot for larger pieces of kit and machinery.

We’re renowned locally for our wide range of equipment Access, Breaking and Drilling, Concreting, Lifting, Handling, Lighting, Power, Cleaning, Gardening and more.

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50

the government and Iarnrod Eireann on continuing the development of western rail infrastructure and we expect that the new station will add to passenger numbers on both the Galway-Dublin and Galway-Limerick routes as well as boosting commuter numbers into Galway city.

“We also look forward to the opening of Crusheen Station in County Clare for which planning permission has recently been granted to Iarnrod Eireann.”

The Main Contractor for the project was Conneely Building & Civil Engineering. Brian Conneely & Co was formed in 1994 and has since developed into a very successful building and civil engineering company.

Over the past number of years, the Company has successfully carried out a wide range of both building and civil engineering projects that have varied in size and complexity and the Company has evolved into one that caters for many different types of construction projects ranging from small to large civil engineering projects such as bridges and car parks to high-end housing schemes.

In order to facilitate the various projects, Conneely has established subsidiary companies, some of which include a civil engineering company involved in various projects around Ireland, a building company involved in the development of houses and a quarry company involved in the production of sand and stone.

The Company’s commitment to providing the highest level of standards in the completion of all projects has seen it go from strength to strength.

Conneely has a large client base nationally and has completed some prestigious projects for public bodies, semi-state bodies and private organisations. Some of these are ESB, HSE, Athlone Institute of Technology, various County Councils, Bord Na Mona, the IDA, NRA, Bus Eireann, Irish Prison Service, private clients and Iarnrod Eireann.

The work at Oranmore Station is part of Iarnrod Eireann’s plans to make medium- to long-term improvements to the railway.

Other projects undertaken include construction on Luas Cross City – Dublin’s new light rail link.

Connecting the two existing Luas lines, Luas Cross City will run from St Stephen’s Green through the city centre to connect with the rail line at Broombridge Rail Station.

The journey time from Broombridge Station in Cabra to St Stephen’s Green will be approximately 24 minutes and the project will be completed in 2017.

Work is also going ahead on Reilly’s level crossing that will allow the construction of a grade separated crossing involving the construction of an overbridge adjacent to Reilly’s Bridge on the Ratoath Road.

The project has been developed in cooperation with Dublin City Council and is funded by the National Transport Authority.

The new bridge will, in tandem with other planned projects, allow for future increased capacity on the rail line for train services.

It will also eliminate major road congestion at the crossing, with 107 trains passing through the level crossing each day, including up to 55 services at peak times causing constant traffic queues while the gates are closed.

The project will link the Ratoath Road from a point approximately 300 metres south of the existing level crossing to the Ballyboggan Road junction to the north.

Works will include the construction of 500 metres of road, a bridge over the railway and canal and a junction with the Ballyboggan Road.

The new bridge will greatly help with the traffic flow on the Ratoath Road, which provides a very widely used north-south connection from the North Inner city and Cabra to Finglas.

Increased traffic and pedestrian safety together with the reduction in traffic congestion in the area will enable improved accessibility and linkages at peak and off peak times for work, shopping and leisure purposes.

The road will also provide a muchneeded improvement to pedestrian and cycle facilities along this section of the Ratoath Road.

publishing limited

to advertise in this magazine please call

01 257 231900 www.pro-mark.org.uk

Based in County Galway, Ireland, ARD Precision Ireland’s state-of-the-art manufacturing facility.

We carry out all aspects of fabrication works including: ● Structural Steel Buildings ● Bridges ● Handrails & Railings + Gates ● We also cover all aspects of site work

Gear + Splines Precision Turned Shafts and Bushings ● Brass Components for electronics industry ● Manufacture of precision blades for agri-industry ● Power Press: Mechanical + Hydraulic ● CNC Press Brakes ● CNC Plasma Machines ● Submerged Arc Welding ● Robotic Welding + Plasma ● CNC Rolling ●

David Maher PLASTERING Pleased to be associated with Oranmore Train Station Danesfort, Loughrea, Co. Galway Tel: 087 2243163 email maherdavid2@gmail.com

We are pleased to be associated with Irish Rail and

●

ARD Precision Limited Barratreana, Ardrahan, Galway, Ireland

TEL: 091 635 465 and 091 635 095 Email: info@ardfab.ie Web: www.ardprecision.com

Hartecast Street and Platform Furniture are delighted to be associated with the new Oranmore Railway Station and also working with Irish Rail nationwide.

Connelly Builders on the Oranmore Train Station project and wish all involved continued success for the future

Anteach Diote, Maam Cross, Co. Galway

Contact Basil Keogh direct on: 086 6036284 or email: basil@maamcrossquarries.ie for further details.

51

www.maamcrossquarries.ie

Hartecast Ltd Clonroche, Enniscorthy, Co Wexford, Ireland Ire Ph : 00353 (0)51-424922 UK Ph : 0161 8206906 E :info@hartecast.com W :www.hartecast.com

HEALTH CI

Ulster Hospital

52

Construction of two blocks as part of Phase B The latest phase of work to transform Ulster Hospital, which will provide a state-of-the-art Inpatient Ward Block, commenced in June 2013.

Phase B will see the development of 288 single bedrooms, each with an ensuite bathroom, a new day surgery department including four state-of-theart operating theatres and an endoscopy suite, as well as support services such as a new pharmacy department and café.

Phase B will also include construction of the Acute Services Block that will provide a new emergency department, assessment unit, a 170-bed specialist ward, imaging department and support services.

Construction work on both blocks could provide up to 800 jobs on site, providing a great boost to the local economy.

Work on Phase A was completed in 2010 and involved development of a new renal unit, maternity unit and critical care complex, as well as a storage facility and a staff car park.

The main reason for this redevelopment is that the ward blocks will replace the existing main ward block that was constructed in 1962 and will enable the South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust to ensure patient privacy and dignity, improve infection prevention and control and provide a high standard of clinical accommodation for generations to come. It will result in a much higher standard of accommodation for patients.

The Inpatient Ward Block will be situated to the rear of the Hospital, on a site that was

previously occupied by the Health Estates Investment Group. Once they moved, the buildings they used were demolished to clear the site for construction.

Consisting of six-storeys, the 19,713sq m development is significant because of the fact all patients will have their own room, all of which will make use of natural light and have views into the courtyard.

The very latest technology will also be incorporated, such as lighting sensors to monitor patient movement, which will maximise patient safety.

There will be a modular data system and an automated pharmacy, adding to the state-of-the-art facility that has been years in the planning.

The team responsible for design and construction have made every effort to ensure that up-to-date technology is used. Models of care have been researched and everything possible has been done to guarantee a good standard of infection control.

Before work could begin, enabling works were undertaken, which lasted approximately 18 months. There were infrastructure works all around the site and roads had to be realigned, while underground drainage and cabling had to be taken care of.

A crèche had to be moved because it was on one of the roads that was realigned.

This resulted in the construction of a beautiful new crèche which, unlike the old one that was small, is quite modern with really good drop off spaces.

L/R: Hugh McCaughey (Chief Executive, SE Trust), Dawn Stephens (Ward Sister), Edwin Poots (Health Minister) & Alan Bill (Supervisory Board Member, Graham Bam Partnership)

Enabling works also saw the waste compound and estates workshops relocated over to the east of the site. They were bordering on the site of the Inpatient Ward Block so, for access and because they were sitting on the site where the second block would go, they were relocated.

A new loop road was then constructed that will go around the back of the Inpatient Ward Block.

Costing almost £8M, the work was disruptive at times but it meant that the site is much safer in terms of building the Inpatient Ward Block.

In terms of minimising the disruption throughout the build, there is a good communications plan and good working relationships with contractors, while the rigid health and safety plan and service continuity plan have all been important.

High McCaughey, Chief Executive, said: “This new Inpatient Ward Block is a major landmark in the continued development of the Ulster Hospital and will provide our staff with fit for purpose, modern facilities in which to provide exemplary care to our patients.”

The Main Contractor is Graham BAM Healthcare Partnership, and the development has been designed by both Avanti and Kennedy Fitzgerald.

Once Phase B is complete, the final phase will see development of the new Ambulatory Care Centre, incorporating the new Children’s Unit.

The construction programme is scheduled to complete in 2016.

ULSTER HOSPITAL PHASE B REDEVELOPMENT In May 2013, the South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust appointed GRAHAM-BAM Healthcare Partnership to the phase B redevelopment at the Ulster Hospital. This new state of the art Inpatient Ward Block, estimated at £115m, when completed will include: • 288 single bedrooms, each with en-suite bathroom.

• A new Day Surgery Department including 4 state of the art operating theatres and an Endoscopy Suite.

• Support services, including a new Pharmacy Department and café.

The new ward block, which is scheduled to open to the public in 2017, will replace the original building constructed in 1962.

It is intended that a future phase of the redevelopment will see the construction of a new £105m Acute Services Block, with works anticipated to commence during 2014.

This Acute Services Block will provide an Emergency Department, Specialist Care Wards and a new Imaging Department.

With an unrivalled portfolio of construction experience and expertise across both the Acute and Primary Care Sectors, GRAHAM-BAM Healthcare Partnership represents a partnership committed to the provision of a value for money and quality experience.

The GRAHAM Group is a Construction, Facilities and Investment Business with an extensive portfolio of Acute and Primary care projects throughout the UK and Ireland. These include the NI Regional Oncology Centre, Our Lady’s Hospice, Dublin, Health Framework 2, Scotland and St. Columba’s Hospice, Edinburgh. GRAHAM has more than 1500 employees and a turnover of over £325m.

Contact: GRAHAM-BAM Healthcare Partnership Home 5 Ulster Hospital Upper Newtownards Road Dundonald BT16 1RH + 44 (0) 28 9068 4800

Bam Contractors are part of one of Europe’s

largest Infrastructure and Building Groups (Royal Bam) and have completed multiple successful large scale healthcare projects across the UK and Ireland, including Curraheen Hospital, Cork, Great Ormond Street Children’s Hospital, London, Medical Research Council, Cambridge and General Hospital in Southampton.

LEISURE CI

Kinsale Yacht Club

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Refurbished clubhouse June saw the official reopening of Kinsale Yacht Club’s (KYC) renovated clubhouse at a reception for members and guests.

The 14-week construction programme was undertaken in two phases. The first included upgrading all downstairs wetted areas, extension of external decking, a new front office, cadet room, visitor laundry area and toilets, new access lift and wheelchair access, realignment of old building stairways, compliance with current building regulations, connection to the town gas supply, a new plant room, heating systems, water systems, associated plumbing and electricals and a decrease in overhead utility costs.

Phase II saw the removal and rebuilding of a portion of the front external wall, repair and replacement of roof and roof timbers where necessary, the provision of a skylight within the bar area and refurbishment/relocation of the bar area.

The facility now includes the new reception/ office area, first class men and women’s changing facilities, laundry, cadet training room and a gym. All mechanical and electrical services within the building were replaced and the extended balcony offers a magnificent view over the marina and has total wheelchair access with a new lift to the main entrance area.

KYC, as it exists today, was established in 1950. The first Commodore of the Club was John H Thuillier. The Club was first located in two cottages opposite the slip at Scilly, across the harbour from the current location.

By the mid 1950s, there were six boats racing in the Club. Jeanot Petch made an exotic addition to the already varied fleet when he built a Prout catamaran in 1957.

Races started off the pierhead sailing to the Bulman Buoy at the entrance to the

estuary and back via the harbour marks.

In the early 1960s, Dick Hegarty, in his capacity as the Club’s solicitor, bought the present clubhouse on behalf of KYC. The 1990s saw three separate extensions made to the clubhouse, by which time it had become one of the leading yacht clubs in the country.

KYC Commodore Cameron Good acknowledged the excellent work of MMB Construction - the Main Contractor, Kiernan Electrical, Simon Walker Architect who was the Architect, JLS Design, Fiona O’Keefe Interiors, Ray Keane & Associates and Martin O’Callaghan Quantity Surveyors.

He thanked members and staff of KYC for their patience and support during the transition and highlighted the key role of member David Ross who volunteered many months of his time to manage the project so professionally.

He said: “We are delighted with our new clubhouse and hope that members will use and enjoy our excellent new facilities.”

Floor finishes in the clubhouse comprise of vinyl roll, resin type flooring system, ceramic or stone floor tiles, engineered hardwood boards, tongue and groove, deck areas, plain concrete pavers, and an external finish to stairs, ramps and landings to be insitu concrete, shot-blasted finish.

External doors and windows benefit from toughened, laminated double glazed units, while internal doors each have a solid core and are fire resistant.

The bar fronts comprise of hardwood and solid elm with built-in cabinetry and shelving is birch furniture-grade with chrome fittings and stainless steel handles.

Existing plastered ceilings were renovated, with cracks and blemishes filled and sanded flat. All external cornices,

mouldings and roses were repaired or reinstated as per originals and according to heritage method statement.

Since the official opening, KYC has hosted The Sovereign’s Cup for cruiser classes, which took place at the end of June, the International Federation of Disabled Sailing World Championships in August, as well as a number of fleet events during the 2013 season.

Work started on the project in February 2013 and was completed at the beginning of June.

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HOUSING CI

Bunratty Road Mixed development of existing maisonettes Work on the two-phase refurbishment development on Bunratty Road is now complete.

The refurbishment work has resulted in the conversion of the previously existing 48 maisonettes into 32 new units comprising of 16 three-bedroom homes, eight two-bedroom apartments and eight one-bedroom apartments.

Phase I of the development provided a total of 56 social housing units including 16 refurbished and 42 new build homes, an all weather playing facility and a playground. The all weather facility was opened before anything else.

The project includes electrical insulation of lighting and external lighting, general services, power, fire alarm, communications, an intruder alarm, CCTV, warden call system, wiring for mechanical plant, lighting protection and distribution groups.

The Adare - Bunratty Estate is located in the Coolock area of North Dublin, along the Oscar Traynor Road adjacent to the Northside Shopping Centre.

The area is well served with local amenities including a number of schools and colleges, the Northside Shopping Centre,

Beaumont Hospital, a number of parks and sporting facilities along with the Northside Civic Centre. There are also several industrial estates and factories in the area including Tayto and Cadbury.

All work was carried out in accordance with building regulations and was designed in accordance with Part B of the Building Regulations. All of the buildings are designed with Part M of the regulations and ground floor units are wheelchair accessible.

The existing maisonettes along the Bunratty Road were retained with only partial demolition required. However, on part of the Oscar Traynor Road, some of the maisonettes adjacent were demolished.

Foundations are concrete and rising walls are solid concrete blockwork. New painted mild steel railings are provided to enclose the site from the Oscar Traynor Road and at the end of all cul-de-sacs in the development.

Front garden walls are almost one metre high and constructed from concrete blockwork with a render finish on both sides. Rear garden walls have been constructed from 1.8-metre high treated timber palisade fences.

New masonry walls are clay brickwork,

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110mm insulated cavity and 215mm internal leaf of concrete block plastered internally.

Ground floors and suspended floors have power-floated concrete floors with insulation. A radon gas barrier is provided underfloor as required and there are precast concrete floor slabs with screed and sound insulation. Suspended plasterboard and skim ceilings benefit all apartments.

Windows are external double glazed in powder coated thermally broken aluminium frames, while external doors are painted hardwood to match windows and patent glazing.

Rooflights are double glazed and provided where required with automatic openers linked to the fire alarm, and Stonewold roof tiles have been provided to new houses.

There is a Kingspan Kingzip roof for sloping sections of the apartment blocks, while flat roof areas benefit from Iko roof membrane.

The Architect for the project was Niall Hyde +Associates and the Main Contractor was Ganson Building & Civil Engineering Ltd. Work started in January 2013 and was completed in September 2013.

Fergus Kehoe Groundworks and Civils We cover all aspects of Groundworks from start to finish: Specialists in the following: Site Clearance - Footings & Foundations - Pipe Laying & Drainage Sub Base Preparation - Excavation - Hard/Soft Landscaping Concreting - Kerbing, Edging & Block Paving - All Ground Works Projects - Blockwork Ladystown, Rathvilly, Co. Carlow

Email: jandfk@eircom.net Contact Mobile No.: 0876682050

CI COMMUNITY

St Mel’s Cathedral Rising from the ashes A landmark reconstruction project is underway to restore a historic old building in Longford that was destroyed by fire.

At approximately 5am on Christmas Day in 2009, St Mel’s Cathedral was completely gutted after a fire tore through the rear and throughout the building, just a few hours after midnight Mass had been celebrated.

Extinguishing this accidental blaze was hindered by freezing weather because pipes were frozen solid, causing the fire to continue for several hours. Initial investigations into the cause were also hampered by the precarious state of the building.

Fire services did their best to contain the fire, but unfortunately could not stop the flames spreading throughout the Cathedral, destroying all but the portico, bell tower and main walls.

The seats and organ were destroyed and the roof collapsed. There was severe fire damage to the walls, plaster, columns and marble work of the Longford Cathedral.

The museum also fell victim to the blaze, with the loss of many valuable items such as historic vestments, photographs and an exquisite collection of Penal crosses.

Soon after the fire and once the site had been made safe, the National Museum of

Ireland sifted through the debris of the Diocesan Museum, located at the rear of the Cathedral, and recovered a number of items.

Among the objects recovered are the Shrine of St Caillin, which is largely intact, a portion of the Crozier of St Mel, an early iron handbell from Wheery, County Offaly, and a 13th century crozier made at Limoges in France.

In all, over 200 objects have been recovered and removed from the site for safekeeping at the National Museum in Ireland.

An ongoing conservation strategy is being developed for the objects that have been recovered and conservation of the individual continued page 60 >

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Restoring the roof of St Mel’s Cathedral to its former glory using large format ‘Bangor Blue’ slates from LBS. Lagan Building Solutions (LBS) are proud to be one of the many organisations and individuals who have come together to restore St Mel’s cathedral in Longford to its former glory. Prior to burning down in 2009, the cathedral was one of Ireland’s most prestigious buildings, and indeed, one of the finest cathedrals in the world.

It is no surprise that the original cathedral (built between 1840 and 1856) was roofed with Penrhyn ‘Bangor Blue’ slates -see original bill of quantities (photo inset). The slate industry in North Wales at this time dominated Irish architecture and Bangor Blue slates were regarded as the slate of choice. Indeed, if you look up at many of Ireland’s landmark buildings from around this period, you will see that many are still

Original Bill of Quantities from the 1850s found at the Irish Architectural Archive, Dublin

roofed with the original Bangor Blue slates.

The fact that many of these roofs are still sound and intact today (nearly 200 years later) is a testament to their quality.

A key characteristic of slate from the Penrhyn quarry is the ability for the slate to be cut or split to a large format. In the case of St. Mel’s, the main slate size originally used was a 35” x 24”- these large sizes were particularly popular in the 1800s and frequently used on prestigious buildings such as Churches and Cathedrals. One of the key specifications in the restoration project was that the architects wanted to replicate the exact slate and size that was used on the original build. To that end, Lagan Building Solutions has supplied over 3,400 new 35” x 24” slates to the project over a 3-4 month period.

Given the long history of Bangor Blue Slate in Ireland, it is somewhat fitting that the

For more information on Bangor Blue slate telephone ROI (057) 866 0511; NI (028) 9264 8691 or email us at info@LBSproducts.com

www.LBSproducts.com Follow us on:

September 2013 - the new Bangor Blue roof is revealed for the first time. (Photo by kind permission of T Dolan) ownership of Penrhyn quarry is now in Irish hands – in 2007 Kevin Lagan, Chairman of Belfast based Lagan Group, acquired the business from McAlpine. The business has continued to thrive and we at Lagan Building Solutions are excited to be part of, not only the history and heritage of this slate, but also to be part of its future. We look forward to supplying many more buildings in Ireland with these quality slates and we rest assured in the knowledge that the roof on St. Mel’s will be admired for many generations to come.

Leading Supplier Lagan Building Solutions is the proud owner of 'Penrhyn Quarry' in North Wales, the home of the world-class Penrhyn Bangor Blue® slate.

Established in 2002, the company offers an extensive range of high quality slate, wall cladding, flooring and architectural slate.

Supplying to both trade and general public, the LBS sales and technical team have a wealth of knowledge and will be only too pleased to answer any queries you may have.

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elements has commenced in Collins Barracks.

In addition, a special committee comprising of a team of local and national experts was formed to assist the project committee to choose the contractors to replace the Cathedral’s organ.

Following a rigorous tender process, Fratelli Ruffatti, a renowned Italian firm from Padova has been appointed to design and build the organ for the renewed Cathedral – a significant milestone because the organ will be one of the key features of the restored Cathedral.

Everybody connected with the Cathedral has been resilient and showed great determination that the building will one day be restored – a determination on show in the immediate aftermath of the fire.

In January 2010 a statement was issued

by Bishop Colm O’Reilly confirming that the Cathedral would be restored and that same month, The Friends of St Mel’s Cathedral restoration fund was set up to facilitate the many people wanting to contribute to the work of reinstating the original splendour of St Mel’s Cathedral.

One of the first steps by Bishop O’Reilly was the appointment of a project committee.

The committee, under the chairmanship of Seamus Butler, meets every second week and gives their full support to the design team in the restoration project.

Interactive Project Managers Ltd were appointed by the project committee in May 2010. Their role is to coordinate the design team and all the groups that will be involved in the restoration of the building over the entire duration of the project.

An intensive selection process to appoint the design team for the restoration for the Cathedral was carried out in late 2010.

In February 2011, the development team for the restoration and reconstruction was announced. The Architects are Richard Hurley and Associate Architects and Fitzgerald, Kavanagh and Partners.

In the month after the fire, Hegarty Demolition arrived on site to secure it and make the building safe for inspection.

They carried out work initially under the direction of the Gardai and structural engineers. Hegarty Demolition had to ensure that all internal walls were sufficiently supported and installed a temporary roof structure to cover the Cathedral to protect the inside from the elements and to allow work to go on underneath.

Shutters were fitted to the windows of the Cathedral in order to seal the building from the elements. In order to halt the deterioration and for safety, the internal columns and arches had to be supported with steel bracing and netting. This phase of work was completed in August 2010.

A year later, Kelly Brothers Ltd of Mullingar were appointed for investigative works and trial repairs. This contract comprised of trial cleaning, geothermal tests, steelwork, ground investigation, sample plasterwork and most importantly the replacement of one column.

The replacement of the column was very complex and the results provided important information to the design team for the reconstruction project.

The investigation works revealed the true scale of the damage to the stone columns, which found that all columns within the Cathedral have to be replaced. The sample replacement column was made by stone masons from East Clare from stone quarried in Ballinasloe. The Kelly Brothers contract was completed in December 2011.

Refurbishment of the statues, the tympanum, high up on the front façade was undertaken with the assistance and a grant from the Heritage Council.

Since public funding was associated with these works, the tender process followed the rules of public procurement.

The contract was awarded to Conservation and Restoration Ltd who commenced work in August 2011 and completed in November 2011.

Repairs included cleaning, sealing, repair of cracks, metal brackets, flashing, pointing and repairs to lintel over doors.

Work also includes structural restoration,

consisting of the replacement roof, all of the stone columns and pilasters, the new suspended ground floor and internal lime plaster up to cornice level.

This main contract includes the stone sub-contract, plaster sub-contract and the roof and floors sub-contracts. The contract was awarded to GemPurcell Ltd in September 2012. Work commenced that month and structural work will be completed at the end of this month.

As part of the repair works to the statues on the front of the Cathedral, a time capsule was found in the body of the Sacred Heart statue – the highest statue on the Portico roof.

The capsule is quite corroded but contains paperwork that is thought to contain the names of the children of the diocese who contributed their pennies towards the purchase of the Sacred Heart statue.

This capsule has been passed onto the National Museum for analysis.

The famous stained glass windows by the Harry Clarke Studios – installed in 1932 on either side of the alter in the transepts – were intact to varying degrees following the fire.

These were salvaged in the days after the blaze before any vibration from demolition work could shatter the remnants of these windows.

Abbey Stained Glass Studios of Dublin were appointed and these magnificent windows have now been successfully restored.

These are now packed into purpose made crates awaiting installation once the building work is complete. A number of fan windows have also been repaired by the studio.

Interior restoration comprises of the finishing and complete fit out of the interior of the Cathedral. This will include mechanical and electrical services, lifts, windows and liturgical elements. Work will commence next month and will be completed in December 2014 with GemPurcell undertaking the Main Contractor work.

Estimated to cost e30M, the conservation work of the Cathedral will be the largest project of its kind in Western Europe.

PURCELL restoring the past - creating the future

CONSTRUCTION Joint Venture

Main contractors on the restoration of St. Mel’s Cathedral, Longford

Athlone Rd. Longford, Co. Longford T: +353 43 3345217 E: info@gempurcell.ie

EDUCATION CI

Gaelscoil Moshiolog Extension of a Corey school as part of a wider school regeneration programme A 30-week project at Gaelscoil Moshiolog to provide extended facilities to the school in Gorey has been completed and is open to pupils.

Work at the County Wexford school comprised of a two-storey, eight classroom extension to the existing eight classroom facility. In addition, facilities now include a general purpose hall and servery, staff room, set rooms, library and resource room, principal’s office, general purpose room, multi-purpose spaces, sanitary and ancillary accommodation, with the new build floor area of approximately 1,500sq m.

Gaelscoil Moshiolog was one of three schools awarded grant aid for high-tech equipment in 2009. Sums of e40,000 were made available to the school in Creagh and Gorey Educate Together NS, while e25,000 was made available to the Loreto Primary in Gorey as part of a five-classroom extension.

The extension included a reconfiguration of the existing car park and provision for an additional 15 car parking spaces with access from the public road via an existing entrance. There are two new ball courts and a junior play area enclosed with paladin fencing, a new external bin store and oil tank compound, landscaped garden areas, and boundary treatment.

The Main Contractor for the project was Stewart, part of the JSL Group, which was awarded Lot 5 under the Development of Education and Skills Rapid Build Schools Delivery Framework 20132015, which comprised of the design and build of two national schools.

As well as Gaelscoil Moshiolog, the Company worked on Greystones Educate Together and Gaelscoil na gCloch Liath – two schools on a single campus. The project consisted of the construction of a new two-storey 16-classroom school, special needs unit and generally purpose hall.

Greystones Educate Together has decanted into this school. The two existing eightclassroom schools have been joined together with a link comprising mainly of an entrance foyer and a general purpose room with the modified 16-classroom school accommodation occupied by Gaelscoil na gCloch Liath.

Completion of Lot 5 schools will see Stewart having completed more than 40 educational projects nationwide.

Coady Partnership

Architects (CPA) designed the Gaelscoil Moshiolog project and is a performance driven practice that specialises in the design of excellent workspace, housing, education and healthcare buildings.

CPA’s core skills are masterplanning, urban design, building design and building conservation.

The Practice’s 27 highly-skilled architects, technologists and urban designers are led by three experienced directors, with the result always being the delivery of beautiful, efficient, sustainable buildings and settings, emphasising daylight, natural ventilation, renewable energy and low carbon materials.

This is certainly the case at Gaelscoil Moshiolog, which was completed in June 2013.

DAVID DOYLE ELECTRICAL LTD. ELECTRICAL CONTRACTORS ALL ELECTRICAL INDUSTRIAL AND COMMERCIAL INSTALLATION WORK

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No domestic work undertaken

CI EDUCATION

Ardscoil Ris Refurbishment and extension project Ardscoil Ris has a new extension thanks to the Irish Government’s school building programme that will see 219 major school building projects undertaken in the next five years.

The redevelopment at Ardscoil Ris includes a new library, new canteen, 16 new classrooms, five new science laboratories and other specialist subject rooms.

When the extension was given the goahead, the Principal, Brd de Brn, said that it would double the size of the school and added: “The facilities are long overdue and necessary for the education that we want to give our students.

“In the current economic climate, it will be a great boost for the city as well.”

Ardscoil Ris was formally opened in Limerick in September 1963, when it welcomed 52 pupils.

From its foundation, the school was managed by one of the brothers who held the post of Principal. In 1989, a Board of Management, representing trustees, staff and parents, was put in place and a lay Principal was appointed.

From small beginnings, the school, augmented by periodic extensions,

increased its size with over 700 students and more than 50 teachers.

In December 2009, contracts were signed for the extension and refurbishment, with the school now having an area of 6,365sq m.

New facilities include a multi-media learning laboratory, tiered demonstration room, music/drama performance space, first aid room, physics laboratory and demonstration area, art and craft room, home economics room, canteen and circulation/social area.

The refurbishment involved a total refit of

the existing accommodation with upgraded facilities and services, as well as the relocation of some classrooms and offices.

Work has not been without its challenges, which included having to change the Main Contractor after Phase I. The scheme was completed by L&M Keating Ltd, while the Architect was Healy and Partners. Arup was the Structural Engineer for the project, which was completed in May 2013.

CI EDUCATION

FAS Training Centre Enhancing job opportunities for everybody designed to provide a cohesive elevation the south east gable of unit 105 that were to the existing units 105-108, and to retained and protected during construction. enhance the existing south west elevation.

With reference to the Galway City The extension consists of a boiler Council Development Plan 2011-2017, a house and oil storage tank and bund minimum of one cycle stand per 20 car at the south east end of unit 105. spaces or over had to be provided. For Built by Purcell Construction Ltd, the each additional 50 car parking spaces, an extension to the front of the existing additional cycle stand had to be installed. building is approximately 60m long The Architect for the project was Aegis by seven metres wide, comprising of Safety Management. Work on site ground bearing concrete slab with commenced in November 2012 and was steel frame on pad foundations. completed in May 2013, costing e2M. The 1,850sq m extension has an 80mm insulated panel externally, as well as a profiled metal deck sheeting on the roof with vapour barrier, insulation and membrane finish. Windows are aluminium Woodquay Tuam, double glazed Co. Galway and sustainability comes in the form Tel: 093 25465 of solar panels.

Mobile: 087 2445591 There are existing Email: 64@gmail.com beech trees along

John Moran Plant Hire

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Work was completed earlier this year to refurbish an existing training facility at Mervue Industrial Estate in Galway.

FAS Training Centre now benefits from a new training facility for cleanroom protocol and procedures, an instrumentation classroom and workshops, vehicle maintenance classroom and workshop, as well as administration offices.

FAS is the Irish National Training and Employment Authority, promoting job opportunities and training courses for school leavers, postgraduates and professionals.

Located on an existing industrial estate, the building was previously used by FAS prior to the refurbishment, which also included some demolition of existing offices at the front of the building.

Demolition work also included yards and outbuildings to the south west side of units 105-108. This part of the building contained a mix of flat roof stores, yards and ancillary accommodation.

Existing training workshops have been reconfigured in order to improve the functionality of their use, and to provide means of escape and protection in the event of a fire.

The demolished portion of works were replaced by a single-storey extension,

PROFILE CI

Lighting up architecture Anello Architects

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The extension to form a main dining room was completed in 2006

After working for a number of firms in Dublin since his arrival in Ireland in 1994, Manfredi Anello set up his own Practice – Anello Architects in 2000.

Aiming to develop a personal design vision, he always kept a presence in Italy through exchanges and contacts with his father and brother’s Practices.

In 2002, Anello Architects became advisors to the Heritage Council, and has since been involved in a number of high profile conservation jobs.

The Practice’s core issues have been demonstrated through the design and exploration of innovative forms and spatial solutions in a number of residential and commercial projects, while pursuing a sustainable agenda both in design and construction.

In 2005 Giuliano Mignemi joined the Practice and since then has been working with Manfredi, first in Ireland, and also in Sicily, on a number of projects, bridging the geographical and cultural divide.

The Practice tries to work natural light within each project, trying to avoid over exposure and overheating in Sicily, or in Ireland, harnessing the subtle qualities of the Northern Light.

Anello Architects’ aim is to work into the

various projects diverse shafts of light, flashes of hidden views or architectural elements that harness the warm rays of the sun, enhancing the quality of the spaces described within, dealing with different contexts and climatic conditions.

Designing with the available light and fitting it with a design program ties in with the contextual factors guiding each design: each project is thought out in terms of the context and the pre-existing conditions contributing to the satisfaction of the brief.

An accurate reading of the contextual conditions of a site, whether they are historical, cultural or economic, generally better informs the direction of the design.

Working with historical buildings in Italy and then in Ireland has ‘educated’ the Practice to the peculiarities of the architectural decisions and reasoning behind the historical stock of buildings and architectural culture of each country.

The logical expression of a design that ‘uses’ light and carries the knowledge of the site and its peculiarities, is one that responds to the brief and becomes automatically part of the context, whether it blends or appears in stark contrast with the surroundings.

As the design is conscious of these nonacademic constraints, it can then freely

respond in a sustainable way to the materials and cultural constructions present outside the brief and throughout construction.

There is also a continuous process of assimilation for each new project of various images, instinctive responses and conscious decisions that are triggered as a reaction to the brief and the context, contributing to the long and complex task that is designing and realising architecture.

The Practice works a wide spectrum of fields, ranging from private to commercial and committees. Anello Architects has also worked on behalf of the Heritage Council and is on the panel of architects for the Irish Landmark Trust. The Practice has also carried out contracts for the Catholic Church and Society of Friends.

Anello has worked on the refurbishment of Ballinlough Castle, on behalf of the Heritage Council. This has included consolidation of the Georgian Wing, various roofing jobs, rendering the Georgian façade and the repair of joinery and re-rendering of other portions of the façade.

Anello Architects, 6-9 Trinity Street, Dublin 2, Ireland.

Email: info@anelloarchitects.com

BIRA Construction Limited

Bettyville, Ballyboughal, Dublin Tel: 086 8427125 Email: johnwalsh4450@gmail.com

CIVIL CI

River Dargle Flood Defence Scheme

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Protecting homes in County Wicklow Currently under construction, the River Dargle Flood Defence scheme’s purpose is to protect life and property in the Bray area at risk from flooding from the River Dargle and extreme tide events in the downstream tidal area of Bray.

The River Dargle flood defence scheme is just over three kilometres in length, extending from the N11 bridge to the bridge in Bray Harbour.

In general, the flood defence work consists of re-grading of the riverbank upstream of La Vallee, excavation of the north bank at La Valle, re-grading of the riverbed at various locations, a new embankment to the rear at the most eastern residences along Lower Dargle Road, excavation of the south bank at the slang, and a new wall at the rear of residences at Killarney Glen.

There will also be a new wall for the western half of Peoples Park and ground to be regarded on the south facing bank, excavation of the riverbank and construction of new embankment at Glenwood, rebuilding of existing gabion lined wall at the Maltings, a bypass culvert under the road on the northern side of Bray Bridge. This will include the excavation of the southern bank immediately downstream of Bray Bridge.

A new retaining wall will be created along Ravenswell Road, a new embankment along Seapoint Estate, and new retaining wall up to the rear of the former abattoir site.

Work on the scheme includes deepening and widening the river channel, which will make the river as hydraulically efficient as possible.

Construction of walls and embankments along the riverbanks will contain the flow within the river channel from a one in 100 year fluvial flood event of the River Dargle and a 200-year tidal flood event.

Work to remove the temporary bridges over the culvert was carried out in April

2013, which received full cooperation one of Ireland’s largest contractors from the residents of Bray. Temporary with a strong reputation and growing resurfacing work has also been carried business in Ireland and the UK. out on the Main Street/Lower Dargle Road Completion on the e28M scheme that will junction so the latter could be reopened. protect over 650 homes from flooding in The flood defence wall is progressing well, County Wicklow is expected in May 2014. and in-river works resumed from the start of May. Piling rigs have been delivered on site so work could start in area one, and the majority of flood defence work towards Peoples Park has been completed. The mature trees to the rear of the football pitches have also been retained.

The project was born of a need to address the negative impact of high water levels and flooding of the River Dargle on local residents, businesses and commuters.

For many years the River Dargle has been subject to research, assessing the best way to address the impacts and has culminated in this project.

It aims to alleviate 33 Cois Sleibhe, Southern Cross Road, these impacts through Bray, Co. Wicklow riverbank stabilisation, channel management Phone: 01 276 4640 / 087 9064198 works, as well as Email: gcurrums@hotmail.com river widening.

The Main Contractor is SIAC Construction,

B S

L

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SALES

LABOUR ONLY

CI PROFILE

PAC Studio A design for life and the climate. This process of scale quayside in Dublin Docklands. The lighting modelling engages clients directly with the and reflection of the water in Grand Canal physical matter of architecture, and the Basin allow for different atmospheres to suit environmental qualities of light and space. the changing activities from day into night.

This is critical to the engagement of PAC Studio was also responsible for clients in the development of design development of the facades and envelope solutions that are affordable, comfortable, design for the Primary Care Centre in County stimulating and efficient to use.

Dublin. The use of precast concrete fins A core element of PAC Studio is the concept along the main street elevations provides a of design for life – a recognition that the civic scale to this public healthcare facility. use of the built environment over time is The Practice’s work was rewarded last continuously adapting and evolving. year by the Royal Institute of Architects at Long-term involvement with clients and the Irish Architecture Awards. PAC Studio the users of the Practice’s designs beyond was given a Commendation for the Best practical completion of the project is key Emerging Practice for portfolio work and to the design approach. The core desire the approach to work, an attitude that is to provide healthy environments for will guarantee success for years to come. living, working and relaxing, through an understanding of the inter-relationship of users, spaces, buildings and the wider context of climate and weather.

Ongoing research and design work ● Architectural Ironmongery and Scheduling Specialists delivers measurable, energy efficient ● Thresholds and Door Seal design solutions, ● Designer Handles and Door Knobs both comfortable in ● Fire Stopping Seals and Sealants use and pleasurable in experience. ● Locks and Hinges A whole host of ● Access Control Products companies and organisations have ● Mechanical Codelocks benefited from ● Overhead Door Closers the quality of work ● Door Bolts and Catch’s provided by the Practice. These include ● Pull Handle & Push Plates Enterprise Ireland, ● Stainless Steel handles Wexford County ● Glass Door Furniture Council, Cork Institute of Technology, ● Bathroom Products Limerick Clare Energy ● Agents for Dorma, JNF, Briton, Exidor Agency, and the University of Limerick, to name a few.

Projects that PAC Studio has been Ph: 01 453 6633 involved in include www.prolinehardware.ie the Grand Canal, creating a café and info@prolinehardware.ie market space on the

Pro-line H A R D WA R E

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PAC Studio is an architectural practice where environmental considerations are tested to make spaces and places that feel good, filled with natural light, warmth and fresh air.

All projects are unique solutions, responding to the particular needs of clients within the context, culture and climate of both site and function.

The founding Directors of the Practice are Graham Petrie and Peter Crowley, who have worked together since 2000. They established PAC Studio in 2007 and the Practice now employs seven highly skilled architects and an important office manager.

PAC Studio is constantly chosen when designing projects because of its reputation of delivering high performance, low energy, long-term solutions in the form of healthy buildings that are easy and efficient to operate and maintain to ensure clients can reduce energy consumption.

Rigorous management of the design process is fundamental to exceeding expectations within the budgets and timescales to the demands of each client.

A great testament to the quality of the Practice’s work is that the vast majority of its projects originate through recommendations and repeat commissions from existing clients and consultants, which displays how the ethos of lifetime client satisfaction is consistently met.

The Practice makes a variety of physical models for every project to simulate and test light, space, materials and energy performance. This is critical to the engagement of all clients in the development of design solutions that are comfortable, stimulating and efficient to use.

Creativity and imagination is combined with thorough research and analysis to provide unique, affordable design solutions for clients, no matter the scale of the type of project.

PAC Studio is a place where architects seek to understand and communicate the physical, material, environmental and spatial intent of their work. This is primarily directed through the production of models at various scales, to investigate and develop the quality of light, space and material over time.

In particular, models help in understanding the dynamic relationship and opportunities to relate design proposals to the seasons

EDUCATION CI

St Mary’s CBS Two-storey extension, refurbishment and landscaped development

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Work at St Mary’s CBS in Tralee has provided a new two-storey extension as well as the refurbishment of existing school buildings, with development completed last year.

The new building blends seamlessly with the old iconic school building and The Green now hosts some of the best facilities to provide an enhanced, modern, technology led learning environment for its students as well as providing sports and leisure facilities that meet the highest standards for sports performance.

The extension is 2,351sq m attached to the existing 1927 school, a protected structure along with structural and services renovation works to the existing buildings. It has also provided a new school entrance, as well as landscaping of the surrounding area.

Facilities include 27 general classrooms with multimedia facilities, two dedicated IT rooms, five mathematics classrooms, a religion room, media/drama room, as well as two language classrooms and a social science classroom.

There is an art room, design, communications and graphics

classrooms, architectural technology, machining and preparation area, a physics laboratory, chemistry laboratory and two biology classrooms.

In terms of physical education, there is a sports hall including a full size basketball court, weights training and table tennis area, handball/racquet ball court, a synthetic pitch, adjoining training pitch/athletics track, and two floodlit GAA pitches in Caherslee.

The school also boasts a student library and study, an oratory and reflection area, pastoral meeting room and student kitchen/dining area.

The extension was built by Stewart, part of the JSL Group and founded in 1902

by James Stewart, and the Company is still owned and managed by the Stewart family who are dedicated to continuing the tradition of excellence and quality put in place many years ago.

With nationwide operations, Stewart operates as a general building contractor with its head office in Galway City.

Contracts range in value up to e50M and are undertaken in the education,

leisure and hospitality, health, industrial, commercial and retail sectors.

Projects range from new build, refurbishment, fit out, heritage and civil engineering and are delivered under traditional, design and build or design, build and finance procurement routes.

Stewart has gained its reputation for completing contracts on time and to a very high standard and is dedicated to continuing this tradition of quality and excellence in construction.

The Company has an extensive portfolio of quality contracts across all sectors and an enviable track record in exceeding client expectations. The management team has extensive experience of working with design team professionals of the highest calibre and has earned a respected reputation within the industry, resulting in regular recommendations for repeat business.

An ethos of respect permeates throughout the business and is insisted upon from the highest level, ensuring that clients, design team professionals, staff and site continued page 70 >

NUGENT CONSTRUCTION CO LTD PLASTERING CONTRACTORS ALL TYPES OF INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL PLASTERING AND ALL TYPES OF LIME PLASTER WORK CONTACT Sean on 086 2607305

Established in Ballinasloe, Co. Galway in 1980, Western Postform Ltd. is a manufacturer of bespoke fitted furniture and Washroom systems. Over the years we have grown to now be one of Ireland’s leading suppliers to the Educational, Healthcare, Pharmaceutical, Hospitality and Commercial sectors.

With over 30 years’ experience in working with architects, designers, contractors and clients, we have earned a reputation for delivering a quality product on time and within budget.

OrmOnd Line Painting

From the small one off- projects to the large scale industrial and commercial projects, we have the experience, capabilities and flexibility to handle your requirements. With our extensive knowledge of all aspects of design, manufacture and fitting, we are well placed to deliver your project from initial concept to finished project.

We are pleased to be associated with the JSL Group on St Mary’s CBC, Tralee and wish all involved continued success Galway Road, Ballinasloe, Co. Galway, Ireland.

Cangort park, Shinrone, Birr, Co. Offaly

TEL: 0505 47162 MoBile: 087 8475307

Phone: (090) 96 42 566 Fax: (090) 96 43 867 Email: info@westernpostform.ie www.westernpostform.ie

DAVID DOYLE ELECTRICAL LTD. ELECTRICAL CONTRACTORS ALL ELECTRICAL INDUSTRIAL AND COMMERCIAL INSTALLATION WORK

Members of: Main Electrical Contractor for C.B.S. The Green School, Tralee, Co. Kerry Specialists in:

C.C.T.V • Fire Alarm Systems • Intruder Alarm Systems • Access Control Lighting Controls • Data Specialists • Lightning Protection

TELEPHONE: (066) 7127405

FAX: (066) 7127413 MOBILE: (087) 2541051 E-MAIL: DOYLEELECTRICAL@EIRCOM.NET No domestic work undertaken

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ANNAGH, TRALEE, CO. KERRY

personnel are all treated in a respectful and professional manner conducive with fostering a strong teamwork approach.

This approach ensures that the highest quality standards are obtained, budgets are met or improved upon with the benefits shared with the relevant stakeholders and projects are delivered in accordance with agreed schedules. The result strived for every time is the satisfaction of all project stakeholders, such that the Stewart name continues to signify quality in construction.

Stewart has quickly identified the need for change within the built environment and has been at the forefront of this change.

Sustainable building projects are very much at the heart of the Stewart portfolio, which includes delivering the first Second Level School in Ireland to be built to airtight standards in 2006, and also in delivering the country’s first design and build publicly funded BREEAM ‘Excellent’ office block to be procured under a design and build basis in 2010.

Stewart is currently aiming for LEED ‘Gold’ accreditation for another office block project that is being delivered utilising the Building Information Modelling (BIM) process. This experience puts Stewart at the forefront of change within the construction industry.

The Architect for the St Mary’s CBS development was DeBlacam & Meagher that has established a pre-eminent position in architecture in Europe, and is enthusiastically dedicated to the service of clients and to completion of buildings of major significance.

The Practice is primarily concerned with the making of simple buildings and with the employment of beautiful materials such as oak white limestone, black fossil limestone, granite, slate, stainless steel, glass, naturally pigmented paints, gold leaf,

wool, linen and silk to give quality, permanence and significance to the work.

It possesses particular other expertise in restoration and conservation work, interior, furniture design, exhibition design, and the design of excellent new buildings.

The quality of the work has been recognised both in Ireland and internationally as indicated in the list of publications, exhibitions and awards received.

Work on the project at St Mary’s started in August 2011 and was completed last year.

It is now opened for the pupils to enjoy.

SUGRUE

EXCAVATION LIMITED

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T: 091 850108 M: 086 3097155 E: info@floormaster.ie www.floormaster.ie

Mobile: 087-2491422 Tel / Fax: 064-6644379

Concrete Cutting - Structural Alterations

Dominic O'Connor Ltd is a mechanical services engineering company: from Design, Installation, Maintenance and Planned Maintenance to Building Management.

Floor Preparation - Diamond Polished Concrete

East Point Business Park, Dublin Road, Loughrea, Co. Galway Office Tel: 091-880340 www.doconnor.ie

Tel: (066) 7148828 Email: info@ecoconcretecutting.com www.ecoconcretecutting.com

Passive Fire Protection Dromroe, Causeway, Co. Kerry, Ireland.

As seen on RTE’s Room to Improve

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20/20 Window & Glazing Systems has a clear vision of what glazing systems should be used to get the best results for our customers. We understand the needs of our customers and will go to extra lengths to achieve total satisfaction.

Unique selling points are:

• Bespoke Aluclad Roof glazing systems • Frameless glass handrails • Aluminium Bi folding windows and doors • Glass floors We offer our clients advice on which products and systems best suit their needs. Our focus is on energy efficient windows, doors and new glazing systems to reduce our customers energy costs.

Our customers would tell you that 20/20 Window & Glazing Systems offer a very personal and professional service from initial contact to completion.

New showroom open in Ballincollig Commercial Park, Link Rd, Ballincollig, Cork.

20/20 Window & Glazing Systems Ltd: Unit 16A, Ballincollig Commercial Park, Link Road, Ballincollig, Co Cork, Ireland

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Domestic, Commercial, Heritage & Industrial.