ILAC Library for Ambassador Theatre?

New Role for Ambassador

One of the oldest theatres in the state, the Ambassador, is to be redeveloped as a new Dublin Central Library under exciting new plans which form part of Dublin City Council’s €80 million framework for Parnell Square.

The plans involve the relocation of the existing Central Library from the Ilac Centre where it has been based since 1986. The Central Library receives roughly half a million visitors every year who avail of the many services available. There has been a huge redevelopment of the area recently and in particular in the Ilac Centre itself.

The intention is to provide a library of approximately 3,300 sq. m. (the current library is 2,124 sq. m.). A new glazed structure between the Ambassador building and the gable end of the Rotunda Hospital will provide additional space for the library.
The current Central Library building suffers from a poor location, no public visibility or on-street presence, as well as a lack of space for exhibitions, study, lectures or programmed learning.
The Ambassador building offers a supreme location at the Parnell Square end of Dublin’s main thoroughfare – O’Connell Street. It also addresses the need for a high-profile on-street presence enabling opportunities to maximise public awareness of and access to the library. With its new location it is hoped that the Central Library will attract more visitors including the many tourists who visit the O’Connell Street area.

The new facility will allow enhancements in the range of services offered at the Central Library which will include ample dedicated exhibition and study space, facilities for programmed learning and for lectures, tutorials and seminars, all of which are important aspects of supporting life-long learning.

The Ambassador building opened as a theatre in order to raise funds for the Rotunda Hospital which opened next door in the 1750s. The hospital still owns the building. Over the years the building has been used as a cinema and in more recent times as a music venue.
As the Ambassador is a protected structure, the above proposal will be subject to planning legislation. It is now proposed to undertake the required planning process.
When the final plans are ready they will be put on display and the public will be given an opportunity during this time to make comments on the proposal.

(article reference Dublin City News, Issue 1, December 2007)

On the whole, I think this is great and that was my immediate first thought – I’ve always hated the ILAC, which for me wouldn’t even equate to a good suburban library, let alone the central library of the capital city.

My concerns are the same as expressed by others of the thread – namely size and suitability. Dublin should have a suitability sized and appropriate library. It should be large and exhaustive in its resources. I don’t know if the Ambassador will provide the space for this. The location could not be better though.

My preference would be a new library for the redeveloped Fingal headquarters – when was the last time a large public building built in Dublin?

Still though, a great improvement.

@GrahamH wrote:

Surely this isn’t going to be the Hugh Lane all over again?! Please in the name of all that’s sane do not let this be another “oh but it’s only glass, it doesn’t actually exist” infill extension.

Sounds like that’s exactly what will happen.

I think it’s a wonderful idea to use it as a public building, but I don’t see how it could be large enough for a new central library unless there is a large extension. Maybe if it’s around the back it won’t be too bad?

The ILAC library is truely abominable.

What about directly behind the Gate Theatre’s location, if there’s space. Or they could do a Pei and sink loads of it below ground witha big skylight…Louvre Pyramid style.

Well, the problem is that the Hugh Lane, the Writers Museum and the Gate are all there, expanding the Library into all the available space will land lock these institutions. Space was always the flaw with this plan.

Yes: Scoil Muire is empty and owned by the government as part of the child abuse restitution. The proposal in the area plan is to turn most of this into a “boutique” hotel and the rest into dedicated office space for arts organizations. Putting the library here would be bad, for a start to make suitable space for library would make this a facade retention, which would be bad and building behind Scoil Muire would land lock the Hugh Lane, likewise, extending the Ambassador building will land lock the Gate.

I guess one issue whether the Rotunda is staying on site long term: the area plan was written under the assumption that it was, I don’t know if it is close enough to the Mater to be considered co-located there.

Wouldn’t the Irish Aid office of been a good site for the library?

@notjim wrote:

Interesting planning application up for an open air cafe at the ambassador, to the left of the entrance as you face it, including railings where the bollards are now!

gunter won’t like that 🙁

Are you not content with already having done that to Trinners? :p

So the Ambassador still sits rotting. Any new plans for it?