Miesian Plaza

Miesian Plaza (formerly known as the Bank of Ireland Headquarters) is an office building complex on Lower Baggot Street, Dublin. It is designed in the International Style, inspired by the architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, particularly his Seagram Building.[1] It was described by Dublin City Planners as "one of the most important Modernist buildings in Ireland" and its facade and plaza are protected structures.[2]

Miesian Plaza
Miesian Plaza in 2018
General information
StatusComplete
TypeOffice
Architectural styleInternational Style, Modernist
Address50-58 Lower Baggot Street, Dublin 2
Town or cityDublin
CountryIreland
Completed1968-1978
OwnerLarry Goodman
Technical details
Floor count8
Floor area20,493 square metres (220,600 sq ft)
Design and construction
ArchitectRonald Tallon (Scott Tallon Walker)

History

The complex was built as the Bank of Ireland's headquarters, and it was known by that name for most of its history. Construction was controversial as it entailed the demolition of a block of Georgian homes.[3] The project was said to have used so much copper that the global price of copper was impacted.[4]

The Bank of Ireland sold the property in 2006 at the height of the Celtic Tiger property boom[5] and moved its headquarters from the building in 2010.[6] An extensive redevelopment and expansion was proposed in 2008 but rejected by Dublin City Council due to the impacts on its protected architecture and surrounding area.[7]

The complex was purchased by Larry Goodman in 2012 and extensive renovations were carried out under the original architects Scott Tallon Walker, respecting the complex's iconic design.[8] Following the renovations, the complex was renamed Miesian Plaza,[9] and in 2019 became the first development in Ireland to achieve LEED Platinum v4 certification.[10]

Design

Miesian Plaza includes three buildings of four, five, and eight storeys in height, with a central plaza.[11] The two shorter buildings are adjacent to Lower Baggot Street with the 8-story building behind them, minimizing its towering effect on the street.[8]

The plaza contains the sculptures Reflections by Michael Bulfin and Red Cardinal by John Burke.[11]

The Bank of Ireland Headquarters in 2010. The cladding shows patina prior to its mid-2010s refurbishment.

The complex was added to the Record of Protected Structures in 2010 as Dublin City Council judged it to be "Dublin’s finest example of the restrained and elegant Miesian style".[9] Specifically, the facades and plaza are protected, and were refurbished under the mid-2010s renevations.[9] The facade is identical to that on Mies van der Rohe's Seagram Building.[12]

Tenants

The complex was the Bank of Ireland's headquarters from 1972 to 2010.[6]

Miesian Plaza is the headquarters of pharmaceutical company Shire (since 2017)[13] and of Ireland's departments of Children and Youth Affairs and of Health (both since 2018).[14]

References
  1. Curran, Richard (11 April 2015). "Goodman gets green light for Baggot St makeover". Irish Independent. Retrieved 10 April 2020.
  2. Fagan, Jack (3 October 2012). "Iconic bank HQ down from €212m to €30-€35m". Irish Times. Retrieved 10 April 2020.
  3. Whitney, Karl (4 September 2014). Hidden City: Adventures and Explorations in Dublin. Penguin UK. p. 137. ISBN 9781844883134.
  4. McDonald, Frank (1985). The destruction of Dublin. Gill and Macmillan. p. 111. ISBN 978-0717113866.
  5. O'Mahony, Brian (15 January 2010). "Bank of Ireland will move its HQ by March". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 10 April 2020.
  6. Carswell, Simon (15 January 2010). "Bank of Ireland moving head office from Baggot Street in cost-saving measure". The Irish Times. Retrieved 10 April 2020.
  7. Melia, Paul (15 August 2008). "Plan to revamp iconic BoI headquarters is rejected". Irish Independent. Retrieved 10 April 2020.
  8. Cradden, John (30 March 2020). "Mies en Scéne - Iconic Dublin offices get deep green treatment". Passive House Plus. No. 32.
  9. Kelly, Olivia (8 April 2015). "Permission for refurbishment of former bank HQ". Irish Times. Retrieved 10 April 2020.
  10. "Miesian Plaza achieves LEED Platinum v4 Certification". Irish Building Magazine. 17 July 2019. Retrieved 10 April 2020.
  11. Dargan, Pat (15 November 2017). Dublin in 50 Buildings. Amberley Publishing Limited. p. 138. ISBN 9781445677743.
  12. McDonald, Frank (27 August 2014). "Former Bank of Ireland headquarters to be faithfully restored by Goodman firm". Irish Times. Archived from the original on 16 May 2016. Retrieved 10 April 2020.
  13. Duffy, Rónán (27 April 2017). "Bank of Ireland's former Dublin HQ is getting a facelift and a new tenant". TheJournal.ie. Retrieved 10 April 2020.
  14. Barry, Aoife (29 September 2018). "New Department of Health headquarters were empty for over a year - costing almost €16m". TheJournal.ie. Retrieved 10 April 2020.

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