Restoration and fit-out of a protected structure

The restoration and fit-out of Woodlock Library, a protected structure, was a hugely important project to work on. It took place in the All Hallows campus 18th Century Senior House. Woodlock Hall has been repurposed as a library across multiple levels inside the confines of the hall. We took special care to ensure minimal points of contact with the building. As a result, this allowed us to maintain as much of the existing structure as possible.

The refurbishment also saw the restoration of bespoke features. This included the relaying of historic timber floorboards, the restoration of the original wooden paneling, timber doors, and sash windows. We also installed sustainable energy solutions, including geothermal heating. We feel privileged to have worked on this project that has given new life to a historic building.

Plans for the restoration of Woodlock Hall began in 2018, coinciding with an agreement between the University and the Irish Jesuits in 2019. Following this, they agreed to transfer the library collection from Milltown Park into the care of DCU Library. Concurrently, this ensured its preservation and accessibility for the future.

Excavation works to remove the floor were necessary to create the steel structures fixing base, allowing for the insulation of the floor. In addition, we installed a high-efficiency Commercial Air to Water heat pump underfloor heating system has resulted in easier temperature management for the library.

We undertook careful internal deconstruction of the lobby area to the front of the hall to facilitate the installation of a new multi-story lift on each floor. Housed in a glazed facade is a prefabricated metal stair system. All works here occurred on a live third-level campus.

We collaborated with Mullarkey Pedersen Architects for this project and works were completed in 2020.

McKeon Group