The Central Bank’s plans to redevelop the half-built former
Anglo Irish Bank
building in
Dublin's docklands into a new headquarters have been approved by Dublin City Council.
The development, expected to cost €140 million, will involve covering the concrete skeleton of the North Wall Quay building with a fine mesh facade made of bronze coloured anodised metal to create an eight-storey office block.
The site was originally owned by developer Liam Carroll, who had planned to build a new financial services hub anchored by Anglo. Only the shell of this buildings stands.
The new development, designed by Henry J Lyons, is intended to complement the Criminal Courts of Justice building further along the Liffey, which was also designed by the Irish architects.
It is also inspired by 41 Cooper Square, an award-winning energy-efficient university building designed by Thom Mayne of Morphosis Architecture in New York’s East Village.
Construction of the 25,000sq m building is due to begin late this year and is expected to be completed in 2016. The bank intends to relocate 1,400 staff to its new headquarters from three sites, including its Dame Street headquarters.
The council included 17 conditions in the granting of permission, but made no substantial changes to the bank’s plans.
