College Square (Dublin) Explained

College Square
Image Alt:A picture of College Square in Dublin, with the main tower under construction
Coordinates:53.346°N -6.256°W
Address:Hawkins Street, Dublin, Ireland
Building Type:Office, residential
Est Completion:-->
Destruction Date:-->
Height:82m (Once finished)[1]
Main Contractor:Walls construction
Floor Count:22
Developer:Marlet
Architecture Firm:Henry J Lyons
Website: marlet.ie/project/college-square

College Square is a mixed-use building development, under construction as of April 2024, in Dublin, Ireland. The building is located between Townsend Street, Hawkins Street, Poolbeg Street and Tara Street in the Dublin 2 postal district.[2] Once finished, it is due to become the tallest habitable building in the Republic of Ireland, with a height of 82 metres, surpassing the current tallest building, Capital Dock.

Background

The site of the development was located close to or at what was originally the River Liffey estuary and adjacent to what was originally the Viking landing spot and marking spot known as the steyn of Dublin.[3] The position was later the location of one of the Royal Dublin Society's first premises on Hawkins Street from 1796 until around 1816. A catholic church had also stood on the site since 1709.[4]

College Square is located on the sites of the former Theatre Royal, Hawkins House, College House and the Screen Cinema, which were demolished between 2017 and 2020.[5] [6]

In 2021, Marlet Property Group began the construction of College Square after a €270 million agreement with Apollo Global Management and Pimco was signed.[7]

Initially, the development plans consisted of an 11-storey office. In 2020, An Bord Pleanála approved plans for a 10-storey residential tower on top of the office block,[8] which was then extended by one more floor in 2022, increasing the final height of the building from 78 metres to 82 metres.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: McNally . Taigh . Permission granted to build one of Ireland's tallest buildings on site of former Apollo House . TheJournal.ie . TheJournal.ie.
  2. Web site: McCormack . Chris . Dublin’s disappearing venues: A promised 500-seat theatre is shrouded in mystery . irishtimes.com . The Irish Times.
  3. Web site: Curtis . Edmund . Norse Dublin . Dublin Historical Record . 21 March 2024 . 86–97 . 1988.
  4. Web site: Ruins of Tara Street Church unearthed . irelandxo.com . 21 March 2024 . en . 26 November 2019.
  5. Web site: Kelly . Olivia . Hawkins House demolition begins . irishtimes.com . The Irish Times.
  6. Web site: Jack . Fagan . Demolished Apollo House site goes on sale for €40m-plus . irishtimes.com . The Irish Times.
  7. Web site: Quinlan . Ronald . Marlet agrees €270m financing deal for College Square scheme . irishtimes.com . The Irish Times.
  8. Web site: An Bord Pleanala approves College Square 21-storey tower . marlet.ie . Marlet Property Group.