AT THE TIME of publication of Beam vol. 35, Irish Lights had just taken possession of the new Engineering Operations Building, which was phase 1 of the Dun Laoghaire development, and the Contractor, Bowen Construction Ltd, had commenced work on phase 2 at the end of October 2006. This phase of the project included the demolition of the remainder of the old buoy shed and the old buildings on the eastern boundary, followed by the construction of the circular Administration Building and the link corridor to the Engineering Operations Building, and also included the installation of the seawater heat exchange system. During this phase of the construction works Irish Lights' operations were confined to the western part of the site with access from the Coal Harbour side, while the old stores building temporarily accommodated the Dun Laoghaire management and administration staff, and the monitoring centre.

Phase 3 of the project included demolition of the remaining old stores buildings along the southern boundary of the site, re-paving the quayside area, and external hard and soft landscaping. These works were originally scheduled to follow the completion of phase 2.

Having cleared the site, the contractor constructed the foundations using a combination of concrete piles, concrete pad foundations, and ground beams. Higher than anticipated rock levels caused some delays in completing the foundations and service trenches. Piling difficulties were also encountered due to large boulders and voids in the underlying strata, requiring the use of permanent pile casings to prevent loss of concrete.

The new Administration Building is circular, three storeys high, with the top floor set back on a reduced diameter. The construction comprises a structural steel frame, with exposed precast concrete coffer slabs forming the ceilings of the ground floor, first floor, and part of the second floor. The building is clad with an engineered glass façade (thermal flue), the inner glazed wall comprising faceted double-glazed units while the outer wall comprises curved laminated glass elements. Blinds are fitted within the thermal flue, which will automatically adjust to sunlight and provide sun shading to work areas. The building is topped off with a glazed atrium that allows natural light to permeate into the central core of the building. The building is connected to the Engineering Operations Building via a glazed corridor at both ground and first floor levels.

A notable feature of the Administration Building is the helical staircase in the centre of the building winding its way to all three floors. Granite stone flooring is provided in the entrance reception area, the atrium area, and is carried through to the stair threads and landings of the helical stairs.

A range of technologies reflecting best practice in energy use and environmental design has been incorporated as part of the building design, including the twin wall façade acting as a moderating buffer on the external climate, exposed precast concrete coffer slabs with embedded heating-cooling coils which control the space heating within the building, solar photovoltaic panels which have a dual function as an integral part of the solar shading system for the second floor offices and power the fan-assisted underfloor ventilation delivering fresh air into the building, and the use of a geothermal ground source heat pump system using sea water as the source.

On the ground floor of the Administration Building will be reception, the monitoring centre, the computer data centre, the Corporate Services Department and staff café. The first floor will accommodate the Engineering and Marine Departments, and the second floor will house the Chief Executive, the Information and Communications Technology Department, and the Board Room. There are several meeting rooms throughout the building to complement the predominately open plan office layout.

Early in 2007 the contractor put forward a proposal for the phase 3 works to be carried out simultaneous with work on phase 2 in an effort to recover programme delays and deliver a completed project by mid October 2007. The proposal was accepted and resulted in a further temporary move for personnel in Dun Laoghaire. By the end of February 2007 the management and administration staff had been relocated to temporary offices in the Engineering Operations Building, and a canteen was set up in a temporary portacabin.

Following this, demolition of the old buildings on the southern boundary of the site took place, leaving a small section in which the monitoring centre remained operational. External services and paving were progressively completed following the clearance of the demolished material. As the months progressed the construction of the Administration Building began to take shape and by summer the building was substantially weathertight. However, the project suffered a major setback on 22 August 2007 when the specialist façade subcontractor, Metallbau Hirsch of Switzerland, went into liquidation and ceased trading. This had a significant impact on progress resulting in considerable delays to the programme with consequential impacts to other sub-contract works. After several intensive weeks, Bowen Construction succeeded in securing the services of an alternative façade sub-contractor, Swiss company Schmidlin TSK, who in late September 2007 agreed to assist in the completion of the remaining design, fabrication, and installation works for the facade. Schmidlin TSK performed admirably with many of their programmed works finished ahead of schedule.

Despite the problems encountered with the façade sub-contract, work progressed on mechanical and electrical installations within the building, external works including paving to the car park area on the south side of the site, external lighting, and the resurfacing of quayside areas with a new concrete slab.

With the delay in completing the Administration Building, it was decided to relocate the monitoring centre to the meeting room in the Engineering Operations Building. This move allowed the contractor to demolish the last remaining section of the old buildings and complete the paving to the car park area.

The project is now in its final stages with internal finishes, fit-out of the computer data room, commissioning of the mechanical and electrical systems, and the installation of flooring in progress. Office furniture, manufactured by Farrell Furniture of Ardee, Co. Louth, is due to be installed in December 2007. Specially designed furniture for the Board Room areas was commissioned from Duff Tisdall, Dublin, who specialise in bespoke design and furniture. Seating for the Board Room, conference room, meeting rooms and visitors' waiting area at reception is being manufactured by Thomas Montgomery Ltd of Bray, Co. Wicklow.

The scheduled date for handover of the Administration Building by the Contractor is 23 January 2008. The transfer of operations from 16 Lower Pembroke Street, Dublin to the new Administration Building in Dun Laoghaire is planned for the weekend of 26-27 January 2008.

Planning the redeveloping the Dun Laoghaire site began as far back as July 2001. Almost six and a half years later the redevelopment is reaching finality. From 28 January 2008 all Irish Lights' operations will be conducted from a single site in a modern purpose built office and engineering maintenance facility, bringing to fruition the key objective of amalgamating the Service's activities traditionally carried out in Dublin with those carried out in Dun Laoghaire.

The official opening is planned for 22 February 2008. This will be a momentous day for Irish Lights as we move into a new phase continuing to provide aids to marine navigation services from our landmark building in Dun Laoghaire.