1983 – Earlsfort Centre Scheme, Earlsfort Terrace, Dublin

A long drawn-out scheme that took many years for completion. With frontage to three major Dublin streets – Earlsfort Terrace, Hatch Street and Leeson Street, planning was lodged in 1983 for this 422,000 sq. ft. development. At the time, the site already had permission for 360,000 sq. ft. The 4-acre site, was owned by the Gallagher brothers, had sat for several years after the demolition of various 19th century buildings including the former Alexandra College and a row of Georgian houses on Leeson Street condemned by the Corporation.

According to reports of the time, the design was to be focussed on a civic square or plaza around which the hotel and offices were arranged. The application, designed in three stages, was to incorporate eight office buildings from three to five storeys in height, forty-six flats in two five storey buildings, and the 180-bedroom hotel. There was also to be parking for 350 cars.

Paul Burke-Kennedy, architect, stated in The Irish Independent that “The Leeson Street classical façade will be replaced in every detail, Hatch Street will have a modern frontage, and Earlsfort Terrace will include a seven-storey really modern spectacular architecture.”