STATION BUILDING TWO

Quality craftsmanship pays off as Station Building Two arrives to the Dublin of ce market

Whilst most of you looking at the image above are likely to remember the days of the POD, Tripod or Crawdaddy, there is more history to this building than most will be aware. Originally constructed in the mid 1800’s, the building started its existence as the railway terminus for the rail line that served between Dublin and Bray.

The station platform was constructed at over 25 feet above street level and the basement vaults underneath was a store for Gibney’s bonded spirits.

During its life as a train station, the building was known to many as the scene of the infamous Valentine’s Day train crash in 1900 in which a train carrying 30 carriages of cattle was unable to stop and broke through the walls of the railway station, dangling 30 feet in the air.
Following the closure of the railway station in 1958, CIE opened a liquor museum in the basement of the sta- tion, which was later relocated to Heuston Street Station.

Since their acquisition of the former nightclub venue in 2016, Clancourt had a very simple plan – to deliver a market-leading Grade A of ce HQ in Dublin’s most sought-after business district. However, delivering this modern of ce accommodation in a building that is steeped in history (particularly one that is a protected structure), not so simple to implement. From the outset, Clancourt carefully selected a quality and experienced design team to start work on deli- vering this concept. Leading Dublin based architects KMD were appointed to commence work on a detai- led design with a brief to deliver a best in class of ce building to address all the needs of the modem of ce occupier.

Sisk was then appointed as the main contractor and they were tasked with delivering this truly unique work- space to the of ce market. Sisk had to work carefully in the con nes of a listed structure and ensure that whilst incorporating all modern features, it was imperative that great caution had to be implemented to protect the period structure. Such care in this task was evident as all the original windows had to be removed by hand and taken off site to be carefully restored to their for- mer glory before later being installed to their original positions on site.

The original stone and brick work was repointed to provide feature exposed walls with unrivalled cha- racter. New skylights were installed in the original roof to provide abundant levels of natural light into the new of ce accommodation, ensuring an optimum working environment for the end user.

Original steel trusses, which support the roof, were re- furbished and left exposed to create a stylish feature from an essential structural component.

Whilst it was important to retain all these original fea- tures, the accommodation also had to serve its primary function as a Grade A of ce HQ building. KMD and Sisk incorporated all that is needed by a modern of ce occupier including a full air-conditioning system throu- ghout, raised access oors on both levels, fully tted toilet facilities complete with ladies and gents’ showers, two passenger lifts and energy ef cient LED lighting. When reading the above speci cation, it is hard to believe that this modern speci cations could be delivered into a period structure whilst still retai- ning its original charm.

Fast forward to 2019 with works now completed, the building now known as Station Building Two extends to approximately 15,425 sq ft of collaborative of ce workspace. The workspace will be located at the for- mer platform level (above the existing vaults), with a new mezzanine level above it. Access to the workspa- ce is via impressive double-height reception area at street level which is lled with natural light that greets occupiers as they enter the Station Building Two.

Commenting on the building, Jim O’Reilly, Director of Of ces at Knight Frank said, “Station Building Two strikes the perfect balance. Internally, the building is being nished to an exceptionally high standard, with all modern speci cations including raised access oors and air conditioning. At the same time, the building will retain many of its original features including its pitched roof with exposed trusses and original stone walls, ensuring occupiers fully bene t from its unique character”

It is expected that Station Building Two will genera- te much interest amongst the occupier community, due to its unique character, central location, access to transport and its accessibility to a range of ameni- ties including bars, hotels and restaurants. In addition, within the wider Park Place development, there are a selection of amenities including Mortons, Zambrero, Cocu, a weekly market, and a tness studio. For those seeking a bit more tranquillity within the city centre, there is also the nearby Iveagh Gardens.

The of ce is located within close proximity to Ireland’s premier retail destination, Grafton Street, where there are copious retail and dining outlets. A number of ne dining restaurants can be found nearby including Dax, Sophie’s, The Grayson, Shanahan’s on the Green and The Cliff Townhouse. A host of leisure facilities can be found close by along with some of Dublin’s most li- vely bars and music venues. Nearby hotels include The Shelbourne, The Conrad, The Hilton, The Dean and the Camden Court.

The wider Park Place development has been hugely successful and is now home to occupiers including Dropbox, Slack, CNP Santander, Deloitte, and Aviva. In addition, IDA Ireland recently moved to Park Place. Mark Smyth, Director of Of ces at CBRE commented “Station Building Two is an entirely unique workspa- ce, located in a very well-established part of town. The building ticks all the boxes in terms of quality, pro le and character”.

Joints agents Knight Frank and CBRE anticipate strong levels of enquiries for this prime of ce accommodation. For further enquiries, please contact Knight Frank (01- 6342466) or CBRE (01-6185500) or visit www.stationbuildingtwo.com

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