The Royal Hospital, Kilmainham

The Royal Hospital, Kilmainham (RHK) dates from the 17th Century and parallels Les Invalides in Paris and The Royal Chelsea Hospital in London. RHK is the oldest neo-classical building surviving in Ireland.

The main buildings serve as the Irish Museum of Modern Art (IMMA) and in the North Wing, as the Banqueting Wing.

The Banqueting Wing is available to rent and is administered by IMMA. This wing includes the Grand Hall and Chapel. These spaces are among the most important in Ireland – architecturally, as well as for income. They are used for receptions for foreign dignitaries including the Irish Presidency of the European Union.

The facility has been upgraded to improve both the fire safety in the complex including all exhibition spaces and staff facilities and improve the overall security. Works have involved upgrade of fire compartmentation, fire doors, general means of escape, fire-stopping, installation of new fire alarm system and installation of new emergency lighting, fire alarm system, CCTV systems and general lighting. A significant intervention to the existing has had to be carried out to meet current fire safety standards and new security requirements.

The entire project has been carried out while the North Range (including the banqueting suite and cafe) and the surrounding buildings have remained in use. The RHK had in excess of 300,000 visitors in 2014 when the refurbishment was completed.

The design service including:

• Working within Historic Buildings that is subject to a Protection Order.
• Large scale Public Works Contract using GCCC Form of Contract.
• Refurbishment works carried out in a “live” campus environment while parts of the RHK remains in operation.
• Design of specialist smoke clearance system to compensate for extended travel distances with performance demonstrated using 3D Computational Fluid Dynamics simulation software.
• Preliminary & scheme design
• Production of full tender package to GCCC Form of Contract
• Pre-tender cost estimate and check
• Tender evaluation
• Site monitoring
• Designers Role under Safety, Health & Welfare Regulations including preparation of Designer Risk Assessments at each stage of the design.

Construction Cost: €5.5M