Dublin City Council has appointed Purcell as the main contractor for Phase 1 of the Parnell Square Cultural Quarter, with construction expected to commence in the coming weeks.
The €173.2m ($199.8m) scheme, a key part of wider city centre regeneration plans, will see the creation of a new five-storey City Library and the refurbishment of historic buildings at Parnell Square North.
According to the council, the new City Library, spanning more than 6,100m², will anchor efforts to revitalise Dublin’s north inner city, replacing the current Central Library at the Ilac Centre.
The development also includes the restoration of Georgian buildings at Nos. 23–28 Parnell Square North, alongside comprehensive upgrades to the 1930s wing of the neighbouring Hugh Lane Gallery.
A direct internal link will be created through Charlemont House, establishing what the council describes as a “seamless cultural corridor” between the gallery and the library.
Dublin City Council chief executive Richard Shakespeare said: “This announcement is the culmination of many years of planning, design development and collaboration.
“The new City Library will be a landmark civic building that supports education, culture, creativity and lifelong learning while contributing significantly to the regeneration of Dublin’s north inner city.”
The council stated that Phase 1 will be funded by a combination of public resources, with €105.14m from the government’s Towns and Cities Regeneration Investment Fund.
It is anticipated that the new facilities will increase footfall, attract visitors, support local businesses and encourage further investment in the area.
Situated at the northern end of Dublin’s Civic Spine, the new library and enhanced gallery seek to strengthen links from Parnell Square to O’Connell Street and beyond, aiming to establish the area as a major cultural and civic destination for residents and visitors alike.
The City Library forms part of Dublin’s Unesco City of Literature status and is intended to provide a modern, accessible civic hub for the expanding city population.
Purcell Construction managing director Derek Timlin said: “We are delighted to be partnering with Dublin City Council on the delivery of this landmark project. As construction gets under way, our focus will be on working collaboratively with all stakeholders to deliver a project of the highest quality while minimising impacts on the local community.
“We look forward to playing our part in creating a new City Library and cultural quarter that will become a source of pride for Dublin and a destination for visitors from Ireland and beyond.”
