8th August 2024

Perega enhances historic Dublin landmark

The Malt House, Dublin, is a much-loved local landmark, located in the city’s South Docklands area. Built by the Guinness family in 1859, over the years it’s become a prominent fixture in the lively Dublin Quays neighbourhood, evoking the city’s rich trading heritage.

Serving as a barley store until the mid-20th century, this historic structure is now undergoing a significant transformation, blending Victorian charm with modern design to create 48,000 sq. ft. of premium commercial office space.

The waterfront-adjacent building will feature an impressive four-storey glass extension rising above the original stone-clad building. With bright, spacious floor plates ranging from 4,000 to 7,000 sq. ft. and generous floor-to-ceiling heights, the development promises to deliver an unparalleled working environment. The seventh floor will be a standout feature, boasting a double-height atrium space that opens onto a waterfront terrace with a rooftop garden.

Our glass and facade engineering team was brought on board in February of this year by Irish Door Systems Ltd to focus on the design of the internal balustrade, a crucial component to ensure structural integrity and occupant safety. This includes the specifications for the bespoke balustrade frame, base supports and anchor bolts, ensuring the system can withstand the required occupancy loading conditions.

Perega’s involvement is part of our broader portfolio of work in Dublin Quays, highlighting our significant contributions to the community’s redevelopment. Another standout project has been our recent work on The Heysham at 73 North Wall Quay, a ‘Grade A’ nine-storey office development, where we supported the retrofit of a 19th-century warehouse. Here we provided the design of the glass and curtain wall cladding, glass façades and external glass balustrades. Another notable project in the area was the construction of the Mayson Hotel, where we oversaw comprehensive cladding works and designed a unique structural solution to mitigate wind pressures.

Barry Patrick, Associate at Perega and lead on the Malt House project, says, “As the Malt House redevelopment progresses, our engineers have taken care to ensure that this ambitious vision is delivered safely and sustainably. This blend of historic preservation and modern innovation not only enhances Dublin’s architectural landscape but also sets a new standard for commercial office development in the city. It’s a great addition to our track record of projects in the dockland area, demonstrating our breadth of expertise and adaptability.”

For more examples of Perega’s work in this field, please view our structural engineering work on historic buildings.