Work on 14-storey Landmark Office Building at Opera Square to commence in the coming weeks

Photographed at the launch of the OPW Opera Square project were L-R James Collins, Chairman LTT, Leanne Broderick, SISK, Mayor of Limerick John Moran, Minister of State for the Office of Public Works Kevin ‘Boxer’ Moran, Kieran O’Donnell is the Minister of State for Older People and Housing, Pat Daly, Chief Executive Limerick City and County Council and John Conlon, Chairman OPW. Pic Arthur Ellis

The Office of Public Works (OPW) building contract has been awarded and commencement at Limerick’s Opera Square is to begin in the coming weeks

Minister of State for the Office of Public Works (OPW), Kevin ‘Boxer’ Moran, confirmed that work on the OPW’s 14-storey Landmark Office Building at Opera Square is set to get underway in the coming weeks.

It was announced by the Minister that John Sisk and Sons has been awarded the contract by Limerick Twenty Thirty (LTT) for the works following a competitive tender process.

This construction phase of the project represents an investment of approximately €70 million by the Government and will be a key stimulus for the wider ongoing Limerick Twenty Thirty programme to transform the economic, physical and social landscape of the city and region.

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The development, which will overlook the Abbey River at Bank Place, will accommodate the Revenue Commissioners Office and other government departments and will be Limerick’s and the Mid-West’s tallest building.

The OPW has contracted Limerick Twenty Thirty to deliver the project on its behalf. This is the first use of this delivery model, reflecting confidence in LTT’s track record, which has seen it recently complete the site wide basement works for the campus and the One Opera Square Building in a joint venture with the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund.  

The landmark building will take 30 months to complete, and will employ up to 300 workers during the construction phase. As a hub for government departments in the Mid-West, the office block will consolidate up to 1,500 civil servants – 950 at any one time in a hybrid working model – in one location in high-quality accommodation while reducing the number of buildings in the OPW portfolio.

The project will deliver 100,000 sq. ft. of office space in a building that will achieve the NZEB (Nearly Zero Energy Building) standard. NZEB is a standard achieved by high-performance buildings with very low energy consumption and in this case, all energy needs will be met by renewables.

Minister Moran welcomed the beginning of what he describes as an “important project” for the OPW, Limerick, and the wider region, he added, “This substantial investment in Limerick clearly demonstrates this government’s strong commitment to balanced regional development.”

The Minister said, “This new landmark building will play a key role in the modernisation of OPW’s portfolio and its strategic goal to create more agile, digitally-enabled workspaces that will meet the current and future operational needs of our client Departments and achieve value for money.

“Retaining civil servants in a city centre location will make a major contribution to advancing the urban regeneration goals of Limerick City and County Council and Limerick Twenty Thirty DAC.”

Mayor of Limerick John Moran commented that with the project beginning it feels as though “we have real momentum” adding it is a “clear signal of continued Government support for Limerick and our future”.

He said, “This is the latest in the line of a number of positive developments for our city, including the advancement of flood relief works, the progress of new public realm plans, the recent HIQA report and the continued repurposing of derelict buildings.”

The Mayor said he intends to lobby the Government for “support for one more piece”, highlighting funding for the City Library as a project.

Príomh Chomhairleoir, Cllr Catherine Slattery said the announcement is a “real boost for Limerick”.

She said, “It’s a tangible example of Limerick’s renewal and the impact that strategic projects can have on our city’s future.”

Chair of Limerick Twenty Thirty James Collins said, “When we set out on the Opera Square journey, the 14 storey Landmark Building was undeniably one of the most ambitious and exciting elements of the plans. Advancing it, as we are, confirms Limerick’s ambition to build a world-class urban core and Limerick Twenty Thirty’s capacity to deliver on that ambition.”  

Limerick Twenty Thirty is a special purpose company owned by Limerick City and County Council that develops key strategic sites in Limerick to drive economic growth, create jobs, and revitalize the city.