Trusted Main Contractor in Health Sector Construction

McKeon Group was appointed as the main contractor to deliver the refurbishment and extension of the Riverbank Centre in Dublin 8 for Merchants Quay Ireland (MQI), enabling the accelerated construction and operation of Ireland’s first medically supervised injecting facilities (MSIF).

Project team

Main Contractor

McKeon Group

Client

HSE

Overview

The project was completed on a live city-centre site, integrating the new facilities into MQI’s established health, welfare and addiction services. The MSIF provides a safe, clinical environment where individuals can inject pre-obtained drugs under medical supervision, with immediate access to healthcare, support and recovery pathways. This pioneering initiative, supported by the HSE and Department of Health, marks a significant step forward in Ireland’s health-led approach to harm reduction and public health.

The Challenge

MQI’s vision was to create a compliant, dignified and accessible MSIF within its Riverbank campus, addressing the urgent need for safer injecting spaces and improved health outcomes for vulnerable service users. The client required facilities that would reduce overdose risk, public injecting and drug-related litter, while connecting people with treatment, counselling and social supports. The project demanded a solution that could be delivered without disrupting MQI’s ongoing services, in a densely populated urban environment with complex logistical and stakeholder considerations. Discreet arrival and aftercare spaces, robust clinical standards and enhanced security were essential to meet operational and community needs.

The Delivery

Our team undertook a complete internal refurbishment, constructed a new basement and delivered an extension with a high-spec healthcare fit out, all sequenced to maintain service continuity at Riverbank.

Works included the full strip-out of all existing internal walls and services, extensive mechanical and electrical upgrades, the installation of clinical finishes, security systems, enhanced welfare facilities, and the creation of an off-street covered queuing area to manage arrivals safely and discreetly.

The technically challenging basement construction below the water table was planned and monitored with continuous coordination of live services to protect neighbouring infrastructure.

We implemented a detailed logistics plan, using just-in-time deliveries and staged access to minimise disruption to the public realm and MQI’s adjacent services.

Quality, safety and environmental controls were embedded throughout the project, supported by our ISO-certified management systems. Collaboration with the client, design team and local stakeholders was central to our approach, ensuring that the facilities were delivered to the highest standards while respecting the sensitivities of the setting.

The Outcome

The completed MSIF provides a fit-for-purpose clinical environment, co-located with MQI’s broader services at Riverbank, supporting supervised injecting in a clean, controlled setting, followed by observation and immediate access to healthcare, counselling and social support.

The project advances national harm reduction objectives by reducing overdose risk, lowering transmission of blood-borne viruses and decreasing public injecting and drug-related litter in the area.

MQI leadership commended our pace, care and recognition of the project’s social impact.

The scheme is a milestone in Ireland’s public health infrastructure, with a contract value of €4.5 million and a gross internal floor area of approximately 3,000 m².

The design and delivery team included RKD as the architects, Seamus Monaghan & Partners as the quantity surveyors, DBFL as the civil and structural engineers, and Belton as the mechanical and electrical engineers.

Conclusion

This project demonstrates McKeon Group’s capability to deliver complex healthcare environments in live urban settings, combining technical excellence, meticulous planning and collaborative stakeholder engagement. The new MSIF at Riverbank reflects our commitment to social value, community delivery and construction quality, proudly supporting Ireland’s health-led approach to addiction and improving outcomes for service users and the wider community.