PENROSE QUAY

PENROSE QUAY

PENROSE QUAY

Penrose Dock in Cork city’s docklands is one of Ireland’s most celebrated modern office spaces, on a prime riverside site on the Lee, and beside Kent Station. The development offers a net floor area of 22,077m² across two buildings, the six-storey over ground Penrose One and the eight-storey Penrose Two. Works also included construction of two basement levels of ancillary car parking and services areas, a gym and associated facilities including access for vehicles.

Client : John Cleary Development
Service : Commercial
Architect : Wilson Architecture
Quantity Surveyor : Michael Barrett Partnership
Structural Engineer : Murphy Matson O’Sullivan
Value : €57 million

Penrose Dock won Building of the Year in the Large Office category and the Overall Building of the Year at the Building and Architect of the Year Awards 2021. The development was also nominated at the Irish Construction Excellence Awards 2022.

The project involved the demolition of existing buildings, including the safe removal and disposal of asbestos. We also removed abutting structures on a listed building, the former City of Cork Steampacket Offices (Penrose House) according to strict regulations, and included refurbishment works with full window replacement and improvements to the external façade.

The superstructure of both buildings was off-site fireproof painted steel frame and composite metal deck floor slabs. The façade comprises reconstituted architectural precast panels with curtain walling and punch windows. We used a precast concrete solution for all stairs and lift cores from lower basement to roof level to both buildings, with early coordination with Schindler Lifts and service contractors.

The landlord fit-out for both buildings comprises the main visitor reception area with access control barriers, and oak and feature plastering panelling, natural stone, porcelain tile and carpeted floor finishes and striking artistic features. Every floor has separate male, female and accessible toilets in compliance with DAC requirements.