Department of Social Protection and Garda Station, Buncrana, Co Donegal

A site of approx. 2.25 acres was acquired in 2005 in Buncrana to facilitate the provision of a decentralised office and new Local Office for the Department of Social Protection (DSP). With the later acquisition of a small additional portion of adjoining land (0.334 acres), which became available for purchase, the combined site area allowed the construction of a new Garda station as part of the same overall project, ensuring that the site was developed consistently and creating a campus of high quality civic buildings in the town.

Work commenced on the site on 2 January 2008 and was completed in late 2009. Staff from the DSP started moving to their new buildings in mid November 2009 and all units were there by early 2010. An Garda Siochána moved from their temporary home in the Clubman premises to their new building before the end of December 2009.

The Department of Social Protection Decentralised office is a modern building with three floors and an underground car park with a total building area of 6,030 sqm. The building accommodates about 110 decentralised staff and has a capacity for future expansion of up to 10%.

The DSP's Local Office is built over two floors with an office area of 1,483 sq.m. and can accommodate up to 40 staff, as well as providing a generous public area where callers can discuss their requirements with staff in a high quality environment that provides privacy and adequate space for their needs. The Local Office also accommodates the RSA Driving Test Centre, which comprises a public waiting area and interview room totalling 67 sq.m. A link is provided between the decentralised and local office buildings, which enjoy a shared canteen facility that has a capacity for up to 40 staff.

The Garda District Headquarters building expands over three floors totalling 1,849 sqm, with an additional 1,052 sqm basement car park that provides spaces for 32 vehicles and ancillary services. Like the nearby DSP building, the Garda facility also consists of a reinforced concrete structure frame, block walls, stone and zinc cladding with the balance rendered in traditional plaster.

Architect:

• OPW Architectural Services
• Doran Cray Ltd. Enfield, Co Meath

Quantity Surveyor:

• OPW Quantity Surveying Services
• D.L. Martin Partners. 9 Mount Street Cresent, Dublin 2

Mechanical and Electrical Engineers:

• OPW Mechanical and Electrical Engineering Services

Civil and Structural Engineering Services:

• OPW Civil and Structural Engineering Services
• Nicholas O’Dwyer Consulting Engineers, Unit E4, Nutgrove Office Park, Nutgrove Avenue, Dublin 2

OPW Services:

• Furniture Division
• OPW Architectural Services
• OPW Civil and Structural Engineering Services
• OPW Mechanical and Electrical Engineering Services
• OPW Quantity Surveying Services
• Project Management Services
• Property Management Services
• Property Maintenance Services

Main Contractor:

• Michael McNamara and Company, Fairgreen Road, Lough Atalia Road, Galway

Sub Contractors:

• Electrical: Tim Kelly Electrical Contractors Ltd.
• Mechanical: James Likely Ltd., M/S McNeill Manus Ltd. and Thos. McManamon Mechanical Services
• Lift: Schindler Ltd.