Work on one of the largest ever-civic building projects to be undertaken in County Limerick is scheduled for completion over the coming weeks, it was announced today.Limerick County Council has confirmed it will commence operating services from the newly constructed Kilmallock Area Office next Thursday, 27 August. The new facility forms part of a EUR6m project comprising 1000 sq.m of Area Office accommodation, a Regional Library for Limerick County Council and 540sq.m of Court facilities for the Court Services of Ireland. The first Court sitting is expected to take place next month while the new library is scheduled to open before the end of 2009.
Commenting on the new civic precinct, Cllr. David Naughton, Cathaoirleach of Limerick County Council, stated: "Kilmallock and surrounding towns and villages have experienced unprecedented growth in recent years. It is vital, therefore, that such growth is matched by the expansion and delivery of improved Local Government services."
"The range and extent of the excellent facilities that will be provided in this modern and spacious complex will enable the Council to provide a more comprehensive service than ever before. I am also confident that the new Headquarters will help establish Kilmallock as an important centre of activity in South County Limerick", he added.
According to Mr. Brian Kennedy, Senior Executive Officer, Special Projects, Limerick County Council, "The main functions of the new Area Office will be to administer work programmes such as road maintenance and improvements, housing and housing grants, and water, customer and planning services to the Kilmallock Electoral Area".
Mr. John Parker of ABK Architects noted that the new civic precinct of public buildings was strategically located so as to extend the building line of the main street and reinforce the vista to the site.
"The Library and Office form a long, linear, single-storey building, which connects with the existing Union Workhouse building. The Regional Library, which will play an important public and social role within the town consists of a double-height flexible space and is located on the most prominent corner of the site. A new linear public space is provided together with over 50 public and staff car parking spaces", he commented.
The new buildings will incorporate principles of sustainable development, including natural ventilation, reduction in heat loss, sustainable and efficient heat generation, extensive use of natural day lighting combined with shading devices, and a central energy centre accommodating a biomass wood pellet boiler and plant facilities.
The project is being part funded by Limerick County Council, the Courts Services of Ireland, and the Department of the Environment, Heritage & Local Government. The Main Contractor for the project is Brian McCarthy Contractors Ltd. The project design team includes ABK Architects, Davis Langdon PKS Quantity Surveyors, Michael Punch & Partners Consulting Engineers and Homan O' Brien M&E Consultants.
