STREET ART INCLUDING THE SLEEPING PATTERNS MURALS
When I photographed this in June 2016 I was not aware that the site would be demolished to make way for the Opera Square development.
Sleeping Patterns murals by the Church of Best Ever. One of the large murals no longer exists but the second one of the pair is still to be seen on the wall of Abbey House where the Tina Hills legal practice is based. The striking images, with the bold colours and geometric shapes contrasting with the architecture of the buildings. The composition and the figures' poses create a sense of intimacy and introspection, which is quite fitting given the title "Sleeping Patterns".
Cahill May Roberts traces its roots to 1902, when Sam Roberts moved to Ireland from England to expand May Roberts. PC Cahill Ltd was set up in 1936 and the two businesses merged in 1972. The business was acquired in 1995 by Gehe, a company related to Celesio
Opera Square is a major urban regeneration project in Limerick City, aiming to transform a 3.7-acre site into a vibrant mixed-use development. It's one of the largest city centre construction projects undertaken in Ireland outside of Dublin.
Project Timeline & Challenges:
2011: Limerick City and County Council purchased the Opera Square site for €12.5 million.
Early Stages: The project faced delays due to the complexities of the site, which included a mix of historic and modern buildings, archaeological features, and infrastructural challenges.
2020: Construction finally began, with an initial focus on demolition and enabling works.
2022: Demolition and enabling works were completed. This phase involved the delicate task of deconstructing existing structures while preserving 16 of 18 Georgian buildings and navigating around archaeological finds like old walls, caverns, and vaults.
Delays: Like many construction projects, Opera Square has experienced some delays. These can be attributed to various factors, including the COVID-19 pandemic, global supply chain disruptions, and the complexities of integrating new construction with existing historic structures.
Scope & Features:
One Opera Square: This six-storey building, the first completed structure in the development, offers 12,111m2 of Grade A office space with a capacity for 1,000 employees. It also includes ground-floor retail and restaurant space.
Bank Place: A 14-storey landmark office building is planned for Bank Place.
Civic Plaza: A new world-class civic plaza will provide a public gathering space.
City Library: A new city library will be incorporated into the development.
Hotel & Apartments: Plans include a hotel and apartments with retail and restaurant units at ground floor level.
Sustainability: The entire development is designed to meet international best practice LEED Gold and 'NZEB' (Nearly Zero Energy Building) standards.
Current Status & Completion:
Ongoing Construction: Construction is progressing on various elements of the project.
One Opera Square: Completed in Q4 2024.
Expected Completion: The overall Opera Square project is expected to be completed in phases, with full completion estimated around 2027.
Replaced Buildings:
The Opera Square development replaced a number of structures, including the former Cahill May Roberts building, the Granary building, and the Radisson Blu Hotel.
Retained Buildings:
A key aspect of the project was the preservation of 16 Georgian buildings, which have been integrated into the new development. This approach ensures the retention of Limerick's architectural heritage while creating a modern and vibrant urban space.
Sleeping Patterns murals by the Church of Best Ever. One of the large murals no longer exists but the second one of the pair is still to be seen on the wall of Abbey House where the Tina Hills legal practice is based. The striking images, with the bold colours and geometric shapes contrasting with the architecture of the buildings. The composition and the figures' poses create a sense of intimacy and introspection, which is quite fitting given the title "Sleeping Patterns".
Cahill May Roberts traces its roots to 1902, when Sam Roberts moved to Ireland from England to expand May Roberts. PC Cahill Ltd was set up in 1936 and the two businesses merged in 1972. The business was acquired in 1995 by Gehe, a company related to Celesio
Opera Square is a major urban regeneration project in Limerick City, aiming to transform a 3.7-acre site into a vibrant mixed-use development. It's one of the largest city centre construction projects undertaken in Ireland outside of Dublin.
Project Timeline & Challenges:
2011: Limerick City and County Council purchased the Opera Square site for €12.5 million.
Early Stages: The project faced delays due to the complexities of the site, which included a mix of historic and modern buildings, archaeological features, and infrastructural challenges.
2020: Construction finally began, with an initial focus on demolition and enabling works.
2022: Demolition and enabling works were completed. This phase involved the delicate task of deconstructing existing structures while preserving 16 of 18 Georgian buildings and navigating around archaeological finds like old walls, caverns, and vaults.
Delays: Like many construction projects, Opera Square has experienced some delays. These can be attributed to various factors, including the COVID-19 pandemic, global supply chain disruptions, and the complexities of integrating new construction with existing historic structures.
Scope & Features:
One Opera Square: This six-storey building, the first completed structure in the development, offers 12,111m2 of Grade A office space with a capacity for 1,000 employees. It also includes ground-floor retail and restaurant space.
Bank Place: A 14-storey landmark office building is planned for Bank Place.
Civic Plaza: A new world-class civic plaza will provide a public gathering space.
City Library: A new city library will be incorporated into the development.
Hotel & Apartments: Plans include a hotel and apartments with retail and restaurant units at ground floor level.
Sustainability: The entire development is designed to meet international best practice LEED Gold and 'NZEB' (Nearly Zero Energy Building) standards.
Current Status & Completion:
Ongoing Construction: Construction is progressing on various elements of the project.
One Opera Square: Completed in Q4 2024.
Expected Completion: The overall Opera Square project is expected to be completed in phases, with full completion estimated around 2027.
Replaced Buildings:
The Opera Square development replaced a number of structures, including the former Cahill May Roberts building, the Granary building, and the Radisson Blu Hotel.
Retained Buildings:
A key aspect of the project was the preservation of 16 Georgian buildings, which have been integrated into the new development. This approach ensures the retention of Limerick's architectural heritage while creating a modern and vibrant urban space.
STREET ART INCLUDING THE SLEEPING PATTERNS MURALS